Kerala HC Dismisses Hindu Body's Plea For Muslim Women’s Entry To Mosques

Kochi: Kerala High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by Akhila Bharat Hindu Mahasabha seeking directive to the Centre for issuing an order enabling Muslim woman to enter mosques for offering prayers.

A division bench of Chief Justice Rishikesh Roy and AKJ Nambiar observed that the petitioner failed to establish that there’s denial of women’s entry to Kerala mosques.

The petitioner submitted that in the context of a recent Supreme Court order allowing entry of women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple, the need of the hour is the entry of Muslim women devotees in mosques for prayers along with men.

The petition was filed by Swamy Dethathreya Sai Swaroop Nath, who is the state president of Akhila Bharatha Hindu Maha Sabha, Kerala unit.

“Thus, women of Muslim community were being disgraced and discriminated against which was against Article 21 and 14 of the Constitution,” his plea said.

This was to be viewed in the context that Muslim women were allowed entry in Mecca, his petition said.

Citing that Prophet Muhammad had fought against the conservatives of his times, petitioner contended in the petition that a true follower of Muhammad will always be willing to accept and adjust to the changed circumstances of life.

The petition also prays for a High Court directive to Waqf Board, in the pendency of the petition, to facilitate entry of women to mosques.