First reactions from the petitioner in the Haji Ali dargah case: "Very happy, this is a great step towards justice for Muslim women," Zakia Soman, said.

This is a historic moment and the judgment has done justice to women, Soman, who is co-founder of the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, told Rediff.com.

In a landmark decision, the Bombay High Court today allowed entry to women in the sanctum sanctorum of the Haji Ali dargah. The HC said women should be permitted in the dargah along with men and the Maharashtra government should ensure their safety. The court said the ban imposed on women is contrary to the fundamental rights of a person as provided in the Constitution.

The ban was imposed in 2012 by the Haji Ali Dargah Trust citing some religious traditions as the reason.

The PIL was filed by women activists Noorjehan Niaz and Zakia Soman and the NGO Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan.The Haji Ali Trust, as the respondent in the case, defended the ban saying that the entry of women in close proximity to the tomb of a male saint would be seen as a grievous sin in Islam.


The Haji Ali Trust has said it will appeal the court order.