New Delhi: The Supreme Court has refused to interfere with a Punjab and Haryana High Court order dismissing with cost a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to make “Karwa Chauth” festival compulsory for all women irrespective of their status of being widows, separated, divorcees and the women in live-in relations.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh on Monday dismissed the PIL by Narender Kumar Malhotra, calling the petition frivolous and motivated, the bench remarked, “These are funded by actors who don’t come forward.”
We do not find any ground to interfere with the impugned order: Apex Court
“The High Court, taking a lenient view, has imposed cost of Rs.1000 only. We do not find any ground to interfere with the impugned order. If the petitioner attempts to file any such petition directly or indirectly, we hope the High Court will take exemplary action”, the apex court bench said, Livelaw reported.
High Court imposed a token costs of Rs 1,000 on petitioner
The High Court, while imposing a token costs of Rs 1,000 on the petitioner, said the subject falls within the exclusive domain of the legislature and declined to interfere in the matter.
“The said subject falls within the exclusive domain of the legislature and this court, therefore, declines interference in the present matter,” the High Court said while dismissing the PIL with costs.
Declare ‘Karwa Chauth’ as a festival of good fortunes of women folk, petitioner sought
The petitioner sought the declaration of the celebration of “Karwa Chauth” festival by women folk compulsory irrespective of their status of being widows, separated, divorcees and the women 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
The petitioner projected his grievance as a social cause and submitted before the High Court 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 “Karwa Chauth” rituals and in case of default, the act of default should be made punishable.
