Rajasthan HC bans Santhara observed among Jains
Q. On 10th Aug’15, Rajasthan High Court banned the Santhara ritual prevailing in the _______.- Published on 28 Aug 15a. Marwari Community
b. Jain Community
c. Buddhism Community
d. Gurjar Community
ANSWER: Jain Community
The court considered it a criminal act amounting to suicide and directed to register cases under section 306 of IPC. The Court banned this ritual, following a Public Interest Litigation filed by human rights activist a decade ago, claiming that the ritual is a social evil and should be considered as a suicide. The ancient ritual, also called Sallekhana, is the voluntary starvation to embrace death. Jain religious leaders has strongly criticized the court judgement. Reacting to judgement, Tarun Sagarji Maharaj has said that this judgement has been given without properly understanding the principles of Jain Religion.
