Days After Sabarimala Verdict, Kerala HC Throws Out Petition For Equal Access To Mosques For Muslim Women

A petition filed by the Akhila Bharat Hindu Mahasabha for obtaining an injunction to the Centre enabling Muslim woman to enter mosques for offering prayers has been knocked down by Kerala High Court.

Pointing out that the petitioner failed to establish that there’s a denial of women’s entry to Kerala mosques, the division bench of Chief Justice Rishikesh Roy and A K J Nambiar dismissed it.

The petition expounded that in context of the Sabarimala Verdict, that ordered the entry of women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple, the same courtesy must be given to Muslim women who allegedly face restrictions in praying at mosques.

The petitioner Swamy Dethathreya Sai Swaroop Nath, the state president of Akhila Bharatha Hindu Maha Sabha, Kerala unit, put forward his petition stating that Muslim women are being discriminated by not allowing them to enter and pray in the mosque’s main prayer hall, as reported by Live Law.

His petition directed attention to the fact that Muslim women were allowed entry in Mecca but not in Indian mosques. He also added that the imposition of a dress code like purdah for Muslim women would enable anti-social elements to misuse it and commit crimes.

“Thus, women of the Muslim community were being disgraced and discriminated against which was against Article 21 and 14 of the Constitution,” his plea said, insisting that it was an encroachment into the realm of personal liberty and social security.