Santhara ban: Jain community carries protest march across the country, albeit silent

The Rajasthan High Court, on 10 August, banned the Jain ritual of 'Santhara' after a Public Interest Litigation was filed in 2006 questioning the legality of it.

Under this practice, a person voluntarily chooses to fast him or herself unto death to achieve 'moksha'. The court made this practice a criminal offence under sections 306 and 309 of IPC.

To protest against this decision, Jain community from across the country took to streets. More than 1,00,000 people joined the protests in Jaipur alone and carried out a silent march.

Maitri Prabh Sagar, a priest of Shwetabar division of Jaisnism has warned that if the decision is not revoked by 6 December 2015, then he will sit on an indefinite fast.

The Jain community claims that 'Santhara' is an essential part of their religion and a spiritual practice which has existed since time immemorial and thus it is unjustified to term it a crime.

Here are the pictures to show protests which were carried out throughout the country on 24 August:

-Patrika