The Maharashtra Hindu Places of Public Worship (Entry Authorization) Act.

1956 : XXXI]  1 
THE MAHARASHTRA HINDU PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP  
(ENTRY AUTHORIZATION) ACT 
[Text as on 4th July 2024] 
—————————  
CONTENTS 
PREAMBLE.  
SECTIONS. 
 1.  Short title, extent and commencement.  
 2.  Definitions.  
 3.  Throwing open of Hindu temples to all classes and sections of Hindus.  
 4.  Penalty.  
 5.  Abetment of offences.  
 6.  Limitation of Jurisdiction of civil courts.  
 7.  Offences to be cognizable and compoundable.  
 8.  Saving of Act XXII of 1955 and other laws. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 The Maharashtra Hindu Places of Public Worship (Entry [1956 : XXXI 
Authorization) Act 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1956 : XXXI] The Maharashtra Hindu Places of Public Worship (Entry 3                                                 
Authorization) Act  
 
LIST OF AMENDMENT ACTS 
 1.  Adapted and modified by the Bombay Adaptation of Laws (State and Concurrent Subjects) 
Order, 1956. 
 2.  Amended by Bom.  36 of 1958 
 3. Amended by Mah.  24 of 2012 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4 The Maharashtra Hindu Places of Public Worship (Entry [1956 : XXXI 
Authorization) Act 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1956 : XXXI] The Maharashtra Hindu Places of Public Worship (Entry 5                                                 
Authorization) Act  
ACT No. XXXI OF 19561 
[THE MAHARASHTRA HINDU PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP  
(ENTRY AUTHORIZATION) ACT.]2 
[This Act received assent of the President on 23rd May 1956; assent was first published in the Bombay 
Government Gazette, Part IV, Extraordinary, on the 28th May 1956.] 
An Act to make better provision for the throwing open of places of public worship to all 
classes and sections of Hindus. 
WHEREAS it is expedient to make better provision for the throwing open of places of public 
worship to all classes and sections of Hindus; It is hereby enacted in the Seventh Year of the Republic 
of India as follows:—  
1.  Short title, extent and commence ment.— (1) This Act may be called 3[The Maharashtra 
Hindu Places of Public Worship (Entry Authorization) Act].  
4[(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Bombay.]  
(3) It shall come into force 5[in the pre-Reorganisation State of Bombay] on such date as the State 
Government may, by notific ation in the Official Gazette , 6[appoint; and in that part of the State of 
Bombay to which it is extended by the Bombay Hindu Places of Public Worship (Entry Authorization) 
(Extension) Act, 1957 (Bom. XXXVI of 1958), it shall come into force on such other date 7as the State 
Government may, by notification published in the like manner, appoint].  
2.  Definitions.— In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—  
(a) “place of public worsh ip” means a place, whether a temple or by any other name called, to 
whomsoever belonging which is dedicated to, or for the benefit of, or is used generally by, Hindus, 
Jains, Sikhs or Buddhists or any section or class thereof, for the performance of any religious service or 
for offering prayers therein; and includes all lands and subsidiary shrines appurtenant or attached to 
any such place, and also any sacred tanks, wells, springs and water courses the waters of which are 
worshipped, or are used for bathing or for worship;  
(b) “section” or “class” of Hindus includes any division, sub -division, caste, sub -caste, sect or 
denomination whatsoever of Hindus. 
3. Throwing open of Hindu temples to all classes and sections of Hindus. — Notwithstanding 
any custom, usage or law for the time being in force, or the decree or order of a court, or anything 
contained in any instrument, to the contrary, every place of public worship which is open to Hindus 
generally, or to any section or class thereof, shall be open to all sections and classes of Hindus; and no 
Hindu of whatsoever section or class, shall in any manner be prevented, obstructed or discouraged 
from entering such place of public worship, or from worshipping or offering prayers there at, or 
performing any religious service therein, in the like manner and to like extent as any other Hindu of 
whatsoever section or class may so enter, worship, pray or perform.  
4.  Penalty.— (1) Whoever in contravention of section 3—  
(a) prevents any per son belonging to any class or section of Hindus from entering, 
worshipping or offering prayers, or performing any religious service in any Hindu temple which 
is used as a place of public worship, or  
                                                   
1  For S tatement of Objects and Reasons of the L. A. Bill No. XXX of 1956,  see Bombay Government Gazette , 1956, 
Extraordinary No. 31, Part V, dated 23rd March, 1956, p. 191. 
2  This Act was extended to that part of the State of Bombay to which immediately before the commencement of Bom. 36 
of 1958, it did not extend (vide Bom. 36 of 1958, s. 2). 
3  The short title of the Act was amended as “the Maharashtra Hindu Places of Public Worship (Entry Authorization Act” 
by Mah. 24 of 2012, Schedule, Entry 61, with effect from the 1st May 1960. 
4  This sub-section was substituted for the original by Bom. 36 of 1958, s. 3(a). 
5  These words were inserted by Bom. 36 of 1958, s. 3(b). 
6  These words were substituted for the word “appoint” by Bom. 36 of 1958, s. 3(b). 
7  This Act come into force on the 1st July, 1956, vide R. H. & B. C. D. No. SDB 1255. E. 
6 The Maharashtra Hindu Places of Public Worship (Entry [1956 : XXXI 
Authorization) Act 
(b) molests, injures, annoys, obstructs, or causes or at tempts to cause obstruction to, or by 
the threat of molestation, injury, annoyance or obstruction, overawes or discourages any such 
person doing or performing any of the acts aforesaid,  
shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine 
which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.  
(2) Nothing in this section shall be taken to relate to offences relating to the practice of 
“untouchability”.  
5.  Abetment of offences. — Whoever abets any offence under th is Act, shall be punished with 
the punishment provided for the offence.  
6.  Limitation of jurisdiction of civil courts.— No civil court shall entertain or continue any suit 
or proceeding, or shall pass any decree or order, or execute wholly or partially a ny decree or order, if 
the claim involved in any such suit or proceeding, or if the passing of any such decree or order or if 
such execution would in any way be contrary to the provisions of this Act.  
7.  Offences to be cognisable and compoundable.— Notwithstanding anything contained in the 
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898  (V of 1898), every offence under this Act shall be cognisable, and 
every such offence may, with the permission of the court, be compounded.  
8.  Saving of Act XXII of 1955 and other laws. — The provisions of this Act shall not be taken 
to be in derogation of any of the provisions of the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955  (XXII of 1955) 
or of any other law for the time being in force relating to any of the matters dealt with in this Act. 

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