Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed with cost a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to make the festival of “Karwa Chauth” compulsory for all women irrespective of their status of being widows, separated, divorcees and the women in live-in relations.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Hustice Sumeet Goel, while dismissing the plea filed by one Narender Kumar Malhotra, said that the subject falls within the exclusive domain of the legislature and declined to interfere in the matter.
Declarare ‘Karwa Chauth’ as a festival of good fortunes of women folk, petitioner sought
The petitioner sought the declaration of the celebration of festival of “Karwa Chauth” by women folk compulsory irrespective of whether they are widows, separated, divorcees or are in live-in relations and declaration of the festival of “Karwa Chauth” as a festival of good fortunes of women folk or Maa Gaura utsav or Maa Parvati utsav.
Petitioner projected his grievance as a social cause
Principal grievance, which the petitioner projected as a social cause, of the petitioner was that certain sections of women, especially widows, are not allowed to perform the rituals of “Karwa Chauth” and sought making it compulsory for all women, without any discrimination, to perform the rituals of “Karwa Chauth” festival and in case of default, the act of default should be made punishable.
The petitioner sought a direction to the central government and the State of Haryana to take suitable measures for implementation of the same provision by doing relevant amendments in law to ensure participation of all the sections and classes of women in the “Karwa Chauth” Puja held in the evening of the day of festival and the denial or refusal by any group of persons in the participation of the “Karva Chauth” festival must be declared punishable and such action on their part being untenable and liable to be quashed.
What did the High Court say?
“The said subject falls within the exclusive domain of the legislature and this court, therefore, declines interference in the present matter,” the bench said.
The petitioner’s counsel then prayed for withdrawal of the petition and the court dismissed the petition as withdrawn.
The bench, while dismissing the petition, also imposed a token costs of Rs 1,000 on the petitioner and directed him to deposit the said amount with the Poor Patient Welfare Fund, PGIMER, Chandigarh.
