Delhi HC Dismisses Plea To End Discriminatory Practices In All Religions

Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition seeking an end to gender-discriminatory practices in all faiths and make acts of discrimination a penal offence.A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and VK Rao refused to entertain the plea saying it lacked “territorial jurisdiction”.“Petitioner has not indicated which of the temples mentioned in the petition is under the jurisdiction of. The petition is dismissed,” the bench said Sanjjiiv Kkumaar, a social activist & director of an NGO Knewmax Benevolent Foundation, has moved the petition seeking directions to end various discriminatory practices such as isolation that menstruating women suffer in their houses due to bar on them cooking or entering kitchen etc. He also sought directions to ensure that menstruating/non-menstruating women of any religion can enter and pray at men-only temple anywhere in India and that men be allowed to pray in ‘women-only’ Attukal Temple, Chakkulathukavu Temple, Santoshi Maa ‘Vrat’, Lord Brahma Temple, Bhagati Maa Temple, Mata temple and Kamrup Kamakhya Temple. *Bar on men from entering women-only Attukal Temple, Chakkulathukavu Temple, Santoshi Maa ‘Vrat’, Lord Brahma Temple, Bhagati Maa Temple, Mata temple and Kamrup Kamakhya Temple *Bar on entry of women in mosque to pray alongside men on Friday and non- Friday prayers.