By India Today News Desk: A Hindu woman who approached Uttarakhand high court seeking permission to offer prayers at Piran Kaliyar, a dargah in Haridwar district, was granted permission on Thursday. The case which was heard by senior justices Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Pankaj Purohit also directed the police to provide security to the woman.
The court asked the woman to submit a letter to the Station House Officer (SHO) of the area for security before she offers prayers at the revered shrine. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 22.
The case involved a 22-year-old unmarried Hindu woman from Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh. The woman, who works in a private company in Sidcul located in Haridwar, said that she wanted to offer prayers with her co-worker Farman, who also works in the same company.
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The woman in her petition sought permission to worship in Piran Kaliyar and requested security due to threats from religious groups. She said that whenever she tried to offer prayers at the dargah, she met with protests.
The division bench of the high court inquired why the petitioner, who hadn’t changed her religion, desired to offer prayers at Piran Kaliyar. The woman explained she was intrigued by Piran Kaliyar and wished to offer prayers there, but was not permitted.
The petitioner also told the court that she is not married and does not want to change her religion. I am a follower of Hinduism and want to offer prayers in Piran Kaliyar without any fear, intimidation or pressure.
(With inputs from Mudit Agarwal)
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