Mumbai high court gave an historical verdict on Haji Ali Dargah by allowing females in dargah.

Mumbai HC removed the ban on entry of the women in Haji Ali Dargah. The court has said that the ban imposed on women is contrary to the fundamental rights of a person as provided in Constitution.

The HC also says women should be permitted in the dargah along with men and Maharashtra government should ensure their safety.

Soon after the verdict, Bhumata Brigade chief Trupti Desai, who has been spearheading the fight for gender equality in all places of worship, said it is a historic decision. “This is a historic decision, we welcome the High Court order, it is a big win for women,” she said.

“This is a landmark decision. The right that women are entitled to get, the right that has been given to women in the Constitution, that were somewhere taken away from us. The ban was on entry of women in the ‘mazar’ (area) of the Haji Ali dargah.

“We have been fighting against the secondary status given to women…patriarch mentality, this ‘dadagiri’ (high-handedness) attitude of the (shrine) Trust that ‘we will not allow women’…This (the verdict) is a victory of movement of Bhumata Ranragini brigade,” she added.

The court’s ruling came on a PIL filed by NGO Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan and women activists Noorjehan Niaz and Zakia Soman.