<div>The Supreme Court today stayed the operation of a Rajasthan High Court order terming as illegal the religious practice of "santhara", a ritual of fasting until death prevalent among Jain community members.<br /><br /><div>"Issue notice. Leave granted," a bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Amitava Roy said while staying the HC order and issuing notices to the Centre, Rajasthan and others.<br /><br /></div><div>The bench was hearing a batch of petitions filed by various religious bodies of Jain community members against the High Court order on santhara.<br /><br /></div><div>The pleas had sought a stay on the high court judgement, claiming it was passed without appreciating the basic philosophy and tenets of the Jain religion.<br /><br /></div><div>The Rajasthan High Court had on August 10 held 'santhara' as illegal making it punishable under section 306 and 309 of IPC related to abetment of suicide.<br /><br /></div><div>The petitions claimed that the high court erred in equating the religious practice with the offence of suicide.<br /><br /></div><div>The petition came in the backdrop of protests by the community in Rajasthan and some other states against the high court order.</div></div>
<div>The Supreme Court today stayed the operation of a Rajasthan High Court order terming as illegal the religious practice of "santhara", a ritual of fasting until death prevalent among Jain community members.<br /><br /><div>"Issue notice. Leave granted," a bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Amitava Roy said while staying the HC order and issuing notices to the Centre, Rajasthan and others.<br /><br /></div><div>The bench was hearing a batch of petitions filed by various religious bodies of Jain community members against the High Court order on santhara.<br /><br /></div><div>The pleas had sought a stay on the high court judgement, claiming it was passed without appreciating the basic philosophy and tenets of the Jain religion.<br /><br /></div><div>The Rajasthan High Court had on August 10 held 'santhara' as illegal making it punishable under section 306 and 309 of IPC related to abetment of suicide.<br /><br /></div><div>The petitions claimed that the high court erred in equating the religious practice with the offence of suicide.<br /><br /></div><div>The petition came in the backdrop of protests by the community in Rajasthan and some other states against the high court order.</div></div>