PIL Alleges Discrimination by Parsi Fire Temple: HC Seeks Centre's Reply

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the response of the Centre, police and the Aam Admi Party government over a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that alleged that persons belonging to other races and religions were being discriminated against as they were being denied entry into the Parsi fire temple near Delhi Gate here.

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao issued notice to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Delhi Police, Delhi government and the Parsi Anjuman, which looks after the temple, and sought their stand on the plea by April 11.

The petition, filed by advocate Sanjjiiv Kkumaar, alleged that the fire temple located near Delhi Gate Metro Station was “practising a system of apartheid, untouchability and communalism by not allowing Hindu, Muslim, Sikhs etc to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Fire Temple”. 

According to Kkumaar’s plea, he came to know of the temple’s policy when he was denied entry there. He has claimed that there is a notice outside the temple, which states that only Zoroastrians will be admitted inside.

Apart from directions to permit entry to all at the fire temple, the petition has also sought directions to the body managing the Jama Masjid to permit women to offer prayers there.

The high court had earlier sought the response of the Centre, the AAP government and police on a similar plea seeking entry of women into the sanctum sanctorum of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah here.

Apart from the Centre, the Delhi government and police, the high court also issued notice to the trust managing the ‘dargah’ (shrine) and sought their stand on the plea by April 11, 2019. The plea has been filed by three women law students, who have claimed that the dargah here does not permit entry of women into the shrine.