Child diksha: HC allows Jain groups to intervene

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Tuesday allowed intervention applications by a group of Jain sects in the child diksha case involving an eight-year-old girl who was made to take up stringent religious vows as part of an age-old practice in Jainism. The court had earlier observed that the practice is akin to that of sati.

The child welfare committee (CWC), which had interviewed the girl on the court’s orders, had reported that the girl was giving tutored replies, and that she needed care. The parents of the girl, now known as Sadhvi Preetvashashriji, and Shri Jeevatlal chandrabhan Kothari Jain Sangh, Malad, the trust which is training the girl, challenged this report in the high court.

The affidavit, which was filed last year after consulting senior priests, said the committee had exceeded its authority and jurisdiction by giving inferences and observations about the lifestyle of the sadhvi and ‘without understanding Jain religious tenets’.

“Sadhus and sadhvis of Jain religion are highly respected. People professing the religion bow to them,” the affidavit states. Now, six Jain trust have filed intervention applications to support the tradition. A division bench of justice FI Rebello and Amjad Sayed will hear petitions next week.