SC on Sabarimala ban: ‘Can you deny women right to climb Everest?’

The Supreme Court said on Monday that it will decide on the right of women to enter the historic Sabarimala shrine on the basis of constitutional principles and asserted that “gender justice is endangered”.
“We will now only be guided by the rationale under the Constitution. The gravity of this petition is that gender justice is endangered,” a three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said.
The court was hearing a PIL, filed by Indian Young Lawyers’ Association (IYLA), seeking entry of women in the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.
“Can you deny a woman her right to climb the Mount Everest? The reasons banning anything must be common for all and on the bedrock of the Constitution,” the bench, also comprising justices V Gopala Gowda and Kurian Joseph, said.
At the outset of the two-hour hearing, the bench asked the counsel supporting the ban about constitutional principles which support the restraining order of the temple board.
“We will like to understand as to what right they have to forbid a woman from entering the temple, a public place,” the bench said, visibly unimpressed with the arguments that the practice has been observed for centuries and much before the Constitution came into being.
The bench said it will examine the question as to whether a public religious place can pass such an order and “whether such a prohibition is permissible under the Constitution”.
The customary practices cannot override constitutional values, it said.
“Anyone can worship the God or Goddess structured into idols. I believe in God and want to bow my head, can you say, don’t come,” it asked the counsel representing the Devaswom Board.
Referring to the prevalent Hindu protocol, the bench said the mother has to be greeted ahead of father, ‘Kul Guru’ (teacher of the clan) and ‘Kul Purohit’ (priest of the clan) and hence, women should not be prohibited from entering the temples.
The Oomen Chandy government recently withdrew Kerala’s 2007 affidavit filed before the SC supporting a petitioner’s demand to lift the ban on women aged 10-50 years from entering the temple. The latest submission chose to support the restriction.
- Source HT

Desai vows to continue fight against gender bias at temples

Ahmednagar (Maharashtra), April.9 (ANI): A day after breaking the age-old tradition that prohibited women from entering the sanctum sanctorum of Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra, Bhumata Brigade activist Trupti Desai on Saturday vowed take her fight against the gender bias at temples to next level by launching an agitation seeking entry for women at the Mahalakshmi temple in Kohlapur.

She said that the stir for Mahalakshmi temple would start on April 13 and thereafter her brigade will go to Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik.

"Fight to continue wherever there is gender bias in temples, From13th April will fight for entry into Mahalakshmi Temple in Kolhapur," Desai told ANI.

"It's been 3 months and after that the women power has won, this is just the beginning," she added.

Escorted by the state police, Trupti Desai-led Bhumata Brigade cadres offered prayer at the sanctum sanctorum of Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district on Friday evening.

Talking to mediapersons after offering prayers with her supporters and cadre, she earlier said, "We are happy that we have launched our agitation from Shani Shingnapur, and it succeeded. Earlier, the Maharashtra Government had taken a wrong decision. The Chief Minister was wrong, but now he has agreed and won't stop us from going to inner sanctum of the temple."

Desai yesterday welcomed the decision of the Shani Shingnapur trust to allow females to enter the inner sanctum of the temple and offer their prayers.

Earlier on Friday, around 100 men were seen storming into the inner sanctum of the holy place, defying the Trust's orders.

On the festive occasion of Gudi Padwa, with hundreds of devotees in line to worship, a mob of men arrived outside the temple and stripped to their undergarments as they barged aside the security to enter the inner sanctum of the temple and pray at the holy site.
-Source ANI

Activists on cloud nine as Shani Shingnapur temple allows women entry

Jaipur/Mumbai, Apr.8 (ANI): The women activists on Friday welcomed the decision of the Shani Shingnapur temple to allow females to enter the inner sanctum of the temple and offer their prayers, saying it was a historic day and would create an atmosphere of gender equality in the society.

Women activist Kavita Shrivastava thanked Trupti desai and Bhumata Brigade who fought for the same.

"What else could be better than hearing that women and men both are going in the temple and worship together? This will create an atmosphere of gender equality in the society," Shrivastava told ANI.

Nisha Sidhu, another women activist, said that this was a welcome step as gender equality is mentioned in the Indian Constitution.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shaina NC also welcomed the decision of the temple authorities, saying it is a historic day for all women.

"This was never a fight of political ideology. This was for women at par," she said.

Bowing to the Bombay High Court order and breaking 400 years of tradition, the temple trust today announced that both men and women will henceforth be allowed to enter the inner sanctum and offer their prayers.

"Anyone can enter the sanctum and the committee can't stop them from entering. The rule was that men and women both can worship god (darshan) from the lower part of the temple, but when men entered the sanctum then it became our responsibility to also let women enter," Nana Sahib Bankar, vice-president of the Shani Shingnapur Trust, told the media here.

He said that the temple had been following an ancient custom but added that they had no objection in welcoming the court's order.

Earlier today, around 100 men were seen storming into the inner sanctum of the holy place, defying the Trust's orders.

On the festive occasion of Gudi Padwa, with hundreds of devotees in line to worship, a mob of men arrived outside the temple and stripped to their undergarments as they barged aside the security to enter the inner sanctum of the temple and pray at the holy site.

The temple had reversed an ancient rule and declared that neither men nor women would be allowed into the area that has an idol placed on a platform.

Meanwhile, activist Trupti Desai will also be reaching at the site to enter the inner sanctum again.

She had been detained earlier on her way to the temple despite the court's orders that women have the right to worship anywhere they want.
-Source ANI

10 pc of pregnant woman at gestational diabetes risk

New Delhi, Apr 7 (ANI): One of the most common health problems related to pregnancy, Gestational Diabetes, takes its toll on 10 percent of expectant mothers, it has been revealed.

According to Dr. Archana Dhawan Bajaj, gynaecologist and obstetrician at Nurture IVF Centre, it has also been seen that pregnant women in the age group of 30 to 39 years had greater prevalence of GDM as compared with those in the age group of 20 to 29 years.

India is one of the diabetes capitals of the world and has among the most astounding rates of women enduring with Diabetes with more than 5 million women influenced in the nation every year.

Diabetes as of now influences more than 246 million individuals worldwide and half of these are women.

Dr. Bajaj said, "The screening test for Gestational Diabetes is recommended at first prenatal visit and then repeat test at 24 to 28 weeks if the initial result is negative. Gestational diabetes doesn't usually cause any symptoms. Sometimes one may have symptoms of high blood sugar, including increased thirst, needing to urinate often and feeling tired."

Once diagnosed as type 1 diabetes or even type 2 diabetes, doctor advises to take insulin shots, then you need to follow an effective treatment.

Diabetic screening is a must for women, if their body mass index is over 30; if they had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy; if sugar is found in urine; and if they had family history of diabetes.

Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, gynaecologist and infertility expert at Fortis La Femme, added, "Gestational diabetes causes miscarriage, large/fat babies and many more problems like polyhydramnios, which causes an overly distended belly and may rarely cause harmful consequences, toxemia that increases blood pressure with the presence of protein in the urine, and swelling of hands/feet. Any of these problems should be immediately medically treated for the foetus's wellbeing."

Diabetic pregnancy has high risks that include miscarriages and large babies. High maternal blood glucose level may increase the chances to have large babies, which makes the delivery more difficult that leads to caesarean.

Gestational Diabetes can be treated with regular exercise that helps keep the blood sugar level normal. One can keep high cholesterol and High BP in control with medication to avoid other complications such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

One needs to follow healthy food habits and never skip meals. Have your medicine or insulin at the same time every day without skipping or delaying.Closely monitor the glucose level of blood using home glucose monitor. Through maintaining the blood glucose near normal, one can avoid many diabetic complications.

Proper intake of food, exercise, lifestyle change, regular monitoring of glucose level, medicines, control pressure-cholesterol, quit smoking are a must for effective and careful management of diabetes under medical guidance.

Dr. Bajaj informed, "Diabetic pregnancy is very crucial. It is recommended that a woman with pre-existing diabetes (both type 1 & type 2), who becomes pregnant, should monitor her BG levels up to 8 times daily. Proper intake of food, exercise, lifestyle change, regular monitoring of glucose level, timely intake of medicines and control pressure-cholesterol is all a patient needs to do to prevent themselves and the baby from all the ills that can be caused by Diabetes."

"Check-ups should be performed on a regular, consistent basis to ensure that the diabetes is not negatively affecting the reproductive organs. The health care provider will determine how often one should visit with him/her depending on the overall health of the patient and the baby", she added.

Dr. Pai continued, "No particular cause has been defined to lead to gestational diabetes but it should be taken into medical consideration. Congenital Malformations & Intra Uterine Death are some effects a diabetic mother has on a Foetus, preventing themselves and the baby by regular medical checkups and exercising is what ideally should be done and is recommended."
-Source ANI

Married woman gets Rs 51.75L compensation

Thane, Apr 6 (PTI) Awarding Rs 51.75 lakh to a married woman for the accidental death of her brother, a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal has held that legal heirs, even if not dependent on the deceased, are eligible for compensation.

The claimant, Divya Alok Srivastav, informed Thane MACT that on May 23, 2007, her 27-year-old brother Abhisek Kumar, who worked with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance and earned about Rs 4 lakh salary per year, had hired a taxi from One Sai Network Agency and proceeded to Shirdi along with her parents to offer prayers.

The next morning they were on way to Pune when car driver Sagar Vilas Lokhande, who was allegedly speeding, lost control over the vehicle which rammed into a tree at roadside.

In the accident, the claimant's father, mother, brother Abhishek and the taxi driver died on the spot.

Divya alleged that the accident occurred due to the driver's sole negligence, and that she was eligible for compensation for her brother's death.

The taxi owner did not contest the claim and the matter was decided ex-parte against her.

However, the insurance firm's counsel submitted that the applicant was not entitled for compensation under section 166 of Motor Vehicle Act, as she was a married woman and not dependent on her brother.

After hearing both the parties, Thane Additional Sessions Judge and Motor Accident Claims Tribunal member P R Kadam observed that the claimant's advocate, S V Patkar, submitted that under MV Act section 166, where the death has resulted from the accident, the claim can be preferred by all or any of the legal representative of the deceased.

This provision does not speak about dependents, but about legal representative of the deceased. All or any of the legal representative of the deceased can prefer claim petition before the tribunal, irrespective of he/she or they being dependent or not dependent on the deceased, he noted.

In absence of class-I heirs of the deceased, married daughter/sister is entitled to claim compensation even though she may be staying separately, he observed.

The judge further said that in his view, the married daughter/sister, if she is the only legal heir, is entitled to file claim under MV Act section 166 as the word used in it is 'legal representative' and not a 'dependent'.

Therefore, Judge Kadam recently awarded a compensation of Rs 51.75 lakh to the Thane woman, including Rs 51 lakh for loss of dependency (future income), and Rs 25,000 each for funeral expenses, loss of love and affection of brother and loss of estate.
-Source PTI

Buoyant Windies stand in Australia's way for fourth Women's World T20 title

Kolkata, April 2 (ANI): Buoyant and formidable West Indies stands in the way as Australia bids to win a fourth successive World Women's Twenty20 title when the final is played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.

The Southern Stars won all three finals it has featured in during the 2010, 2012 and 2014 editions, while the West Indies has made it to its first-ever title round after being knocked out in the semi-finals on the last three occasions.

Stafanie Taylor's Caribbean stars have already assured themselves a place in history as the first team other than Australia, England and New Zealand to qualify for a women's World T20 final.

If records alone mattered, Australia would be the overwhelming favourite to win on Sunday, having beaten the West Indies in all their eight previous T20 Internationals.

During a warm-up match in Chennai last month - the most recent meeting between the two -Australia cruised to a 43-run win by scoring 139 for three and then bowling the West Indies out for 96.

But Taylor's side has shown enough resilience during the tournament to suggest it will not be a cakewalk for the world champion Southern Stars, who are led by the world's leading batter Meg Lanning.

The fifth-ranked West Indies squeezed past Pakistan by four runs in its opening match before comfortably beating Bangladesh by 49 runs. It endured a heart-breaking last-ball, one-wicket loss to England before bouncing back to beat India by three runs to seal a place in the semi-finals.

It was in the semi-final against New Zealand in Mumbai on Thursday that the West Indies played its best cricket to secure a six-run win over a side that had emerged unscathed in the league.

The tall Britney Cooper, who was brought in for the semi-final, justified her selection with a 48-ball 61 that set up the West Indies win.

Skipper Taylor has proved an inspiration with both bat and ball, her 187 runs in the tournament - second only behind England captain Charlotte Edwards - coming on top of her eight wickets.

In Deandra Dottin, the West Indies has one of the most power-packed all-rounders in the women's game who has scored 111 runs and claimed seven wickets.

Australia, meanwhile, has peaked at the right time after losing to New Zealand in the league and displayed its prowess with a five-run win over old foe England in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Lanning's 55 off 50 balls against England showed the Australian captain had recovered from a stomach bug and will be expected to once again lead from the front at the Eden Gardens.

The West Indies will also be wary of medium-pacer Megan Schutt, who claimed two for 15 against England and is her side's leading bowler with seven wickets.
-Source ANI

Mahila Congress, DWC tell Maharashtra CM to ensure women's right of worship

New Delhi, Apr. 2 (ANI): As activists of the Bhumata Ranragini Brigade led by Trupti Desai were on Saturday afternoon stopped by locals and the temple trust authorities from entering Shani Shinganapur temple in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar District, All India Mahila Congress president Shobha Oza and Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal said the Maharashtra Government should ensure that women get their right of worship.
Terming the incident "unfortunate", Oza told ANI: "Even as the Bombay High Court has given a very clear-cut verdict that the government and administration should ensure that women get their right of worship and there cannot be a gender bias in that, the government and the administration are not ensuring this right to women."

"In fact, the Maharashtra Government and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should ensure the responsibility laid on him by the high court that the right of women to pray should be given to them," Oza added.

Dubbing the temple trust authorities and locals' prohibiting women activists from entering the temple as "completely shameful", Maliwal told ANI: "It is the wish of all women in the country to actually entre temples, and it was also the order of the Bombay High Court."

"What is happening right now in Maharashtra is a contempt of court, which needs to be completely stopped," she said.

"It is responsibility of the government to actually intervene and ensure that these women get access to the temple, which is their right and had been denied to them for so many years. And now, through the Bombay HC order it is being given. This must be immediately done and women must have access to places of worship," Maliwal added.

Disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Vidya Bal and Nilima Varta, the court said there should be no gender discrimination as far as entering places of worship is concerned.

The PIL challenged the tradition prohibiting the entry of women inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, claiming that barring women is arbitrary, illegal and in violation to the fundamental rights of a citizen that the Constitution bestows.

On January 26, at least 400 women volunteers led by Desai made an unsuccessful attempt to storm the 'chauthara' of the temple, but police stopped them at Supa village, 70 kms from the temple.

The temple drew attention in November 2015 after a woman offered prayers in "breach" of the age-old practice of prohibiting entry of women.
-Source ANI

Uber case: Women activists call for proper verification of drivers

New Delhi, Mar 24 (ANI): Former National for Commission ( NCW) member Shamina Shafiq on Thursday strongly condemned the brazen case in Bengaluru where an Uber cab driver has been booked for misbehaving with a female passenger and said that cab companies should behave more diligently while recruiting drivers.

Sahfiq told ANI that brands like Uber should take effective measures to ensure safety of their female passengers.

"It is absolutely bizarre and shocking that the cab driver was masturbating while the female passenger was sitting in the car, it is disgusting it is ugly. I don't understand that why companies like Uber are not trying to orientate and council their drivers, I mean why such incidents are repeatedly taking place, the company needs to answer," she said.

"In India there are a lot of female passengers, who travel and depend upon such taxis. If so called self imposed safe taxis there drivers are behaving in such an unruly manner then god knows what is the fate of female passengers in the country as it is the arrangement of public transport is not up to the mark. Strict actions need to be taken in such cases," she added.

Another women activist Pramil Nesarg also condemned the incident and called for better recruitment process.

"The cab companies with due diligence have to appoint drivers, they should do a back ground check. Such checks should be made compulsory. Police verification should also be done to ensure safety," she said.

An FIR under Section 509 of the IPC was lodged in Bengaluru's Madiwala Police Station against 21-year-old Suresh, who has been accused of misbehaving with the female passenger.

The lady got in the cab at around 7:30 in the evening. She was on her way back to home from office when the driver misbehaved with her.
-Source ANI

CARE India addresses critical approaches, future solutions related to Adivasi women and girls

New Delhi, Mar.17 (ANI): CARE India held a day-long multi-stakeholder consultation on advocacy issues related to Adivasi women and girls in India yesterday.

The focus of the meeting was on critical approaches and future solutions affecting Adivasi women and girls in the country.

The following recommendations were made:

· Formation of a specific wing in the National Commission for Women that would specifically address violence related cases from different Adivasi belts in the count

· Ensure effective implementation of the Forests Rights Act 2006

· Education: Encourage learning of Adivasi languages (similar to the three language formula) in schools in Adivasi belts. In addition, infusion of adivasi stories, folk tales, narratives, stories by Adivasi writers in the mainstream curriculum.

· Streamline efforts towards legal and constitutional recognition of domestic/household work, including its incorporation under the National Classification of Occupation.

· Political Empowerment: Encourage representation of women leaders not just at block and the district levels but also at National commissions and forums for adivasis.

· National level alliance/network for Adivasi women and girls

· Sustainable Livelihoods: Creation of women resource zones in the Sustainable Development Programmes. Besides agriculture, identification of alternate livelihood opportunities.
Source ANI