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Supreme Court Says Santhara The Jain Ritual Of Fasting Unto Death Can Continue For Now

SC Says Santhara The Jain Ritual Of Fasting Unto Death Can Continue For Now
Members of Jain community raise their hands as they shout slogans during a protest in Mumbai, India, Monday, Aug. 24, 2015. The protest was against the recent Rajasthan High Court order of banning the religious practice of Santhara, a practice of fasting unto death. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
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Members of Jain community raise their hands as they shout slogans during a protest in Mumbai, India, Monday, Aug. 24, 2015. The protest was against the recent Rajasthan High Court order of banning the religious practice of Santhara, a practice of fasting unto death. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court today stayed the operation of a Rajasthan High Court order terming as illegal the religious practice of santhara, a ritual of fasting until death prevalent among Jain community members.

"Issue notice. Leave granted," a bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Amitava Roy said while staying the HC order and issuing notices to the Centre, Rajasthan and others.

The bench was hearing a batch of petitions filed by various religious bodies of Jain community members against the High Court order on santhara.

The pleas had sought a stay on the high court judgement, claiming it was passed without appreciating the basic philosophy and tenets of the Jain religion.

The Rajasthan High Court had on August 10 held 'santhara' as illegal making it punishable under section 306 and 309 of IPC related to abetment of suicide.

The petitions claimed that the high court erred in equating the religious practice with the offense of suicide.

The petition came in the backdrop of protests by the community in Rajasthan and some other states against the high court order.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.