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In Guwahati, the Gauhati High Court has made a significant decision. This decision is about a case that is very important. The court has said that notices must be sent to Xatras in Barpeta. This is because of a PIL, which means a Public Interest Litigation. This case is about a rule that stops women from entering these Xatras. Two judges are looking at this case. Their names are Justice Lanusungkum Jamir and Justice Kardak Ete. The case number is PIL 68/2023. It was started by a lawyer named Sandeep Chamaria. He filed it in the High Court. The case is against the government of Assam and four Satras. These are Barpeta Satra, Sundari Diya Satra, Satra Baradi, and Ganakkuchi Satra. The main issue is about not allowing women to enter the Xatras. This is seen as not fair and against their rights given by the constitution.
The lawyer who started the case wants the court to tell the Xatra administrations something important. He wants them to allow women to enter all the Satras in Barpeta. This should be in every part of these religious places. There should be no difference between men and women. Women should be able to do all religious activities just like men. The lawyer said that these Xatras in Barpeta are very important religious places in Assam. Every year, many people visit these places. The Tourism Department of the government also helps promote these places. They invite tourists from different parts of India. Sometimes, the government even pays for these visits. The government also gives money to these religious places to help them grow.
The lawyer also said that these Xatras are public places. What they do is important for everyone in society. So, he said, their actions should follow the main ideas of the Constitution. If they don't protect the rights of women, they are not following the rights given by the Constitution.
The lawyer also shared his own experience. He visited the Xatras in Barpeta. He talked to many people there about what happens in these Xatras. He mentioned that Barpeta Satra is a very old and influential place. It belongs to the Mahapurusiya sect. It was started by Madhavdeva. Madhavdeva was the main student of Srimanta Sankardeva. Sankardeva started this religious group and the Xatras.
The main point of the lawyer was about how Madhabdeva and Sankardeva thought about women. Madhabdeva wanted women to come to morning prayers at the Xatra. He and Sankardeva always gave a lot of respect to women. But now, things have changed in these Xatras. Women are not treated well. This is not fair and is against the good things these religious leaders taught.
After listening to all this, the judges gave an instruction. They told the lawyer to send notices to the Xatras. These notices should be sent by registered post. This should be done within one week from November 9, 2023. The court will look at this case again after four weeks.
