After SC stay on Rajasthan HC order, woman resumes 'Santhara' fast

Bikaner (Raj): An 82-year-old woman, who was on fast for over one month, publicly resumed her ‘Santhara’ on Monday after the Supreme Court stayed the Rajasthan High Court decision declaring the Jain religious ritual of voluntary fast unto death a penal offence. [caption id=“attachment_2415716” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  A protest against the banning of Santhara. Representational image. Image courtesy: AP[/caption] Badni Devi, a resident of Gangashahar area here took the resolution of ‘Santhara’ on July 17, said Jain Mahasabha secretary Jain Lunkaran Chajed. Earlier on August 10, when the Rajasthan High Court had held ‘Santhara’ as illegal making it punishable under section 306 and 309 of IPC related to attempted suicide and abetment to suicide, she continued her fast albeit secretly and family members called it a ’tapasya’ (holy vow). On Monday, after the Supreme Court’s stay order, the family members publicly announced that she was on ‘Santhara’ under which she was living without food. Last month, she has voluntarily asked her family members to undertake the Santhara. She was ill for some time and also on oxygen support for few days which was removed on July 15. PTI