Rajasthan High Court banned the Santhara ritual (the voluntary starvation to embrace death) prevailing in the Jain Community.
Pronouncing its judgment, the court considered the act as a criminal act amounting to suicide and directed to register cases under section 306 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The ritual was banned by the court on a Public Interest Litigation filed by human rights activist Nikhil Soni a decade ago, claiming that the ritual is a social evil and should be considered as a suicide.
Churu district – the world’s Santhara capital
Soni, a native of Churu district in Rajasthan had filed a Public Interest Litigation in 2006 against Santhara. Churu district is known as the world’s Santhara capital for its highest per capita incidence of the practice in recent history.
Similarity with ‘Sati’
In his plea, Soni argued that ‘Santhara’ was no different from the ritual of ‘Sati’. He said that when Sati is considered an act of suicide and legally banned then why not Santhara.
About Santhara ritual
- Santhara is an ancient ritual prevalent in Jain community
- It is also called Sallekhana or Samadhi-marana or Sanyasana-marana
- It is an act of voluntary starvation to embrace death.
- Its purpose is to purge old karmas and prevent the creation of new ones.
- It is prescribed both for the householder (sravakas) and ascetics.
- It is allowed only when a person suffering from incurable disease or great disability or when a person is nearing his end.
- Sallekhana, made up from two words sal (meaning ‘properly’) and lekhana, which means to thin out, is a highly respected practice among the members of the Jain community.
