Kerala HC dismisses Hindu group's plea on Muslim women's entry to mosques

A division bench rejected the plea, observing that the petitioner was neither an aggrieved party nor were his rights affected.

Kochi: The Kerala High Court Thursday dismissed a PIL filed by a Hindu group seeking entry of Muslim women into mosques for offering prayers.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Rishikesh Roy and Justice A K Jayasankaran Nambiar rejected the plea, observing that the petitioner was neither an aggrieved party nor were his rights affected.

Petitioner Swamy Dethathreya Sai Swaroop Nath, Kerala unit president of Akhila Bharatha Hindu Maha Sabha, had cited the recent Supreme Court order lifting the ban on entry of women of menstruating age into the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala and sought a direction to the Centre for issuing an order enabling Muslim women to offer prayers in mosques.

He had contended that Muslim women were being 'discriminated' as they were not allowed to enter and pray in the main prayer hall of mosques in violation of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution (equality before law and protection of life and personal liberty).

He also said Muslim women were allowed entry in Mecca.

On September 28, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra had lifted the ban on entry of women of menstrual age into the famous hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa. The SC had said the ban on women violated their fundamental rights and constitutional guarantee of equality. Until now, only girls below 10 years and women over 50 years were allowed to visit the hilltop shrine.