Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Monday told the state to try and stop atrocities on children, who are made to participate in self-flagellation during Muharram processions.
A division bench of Justices V M Kanade and Anuja Prabhudessai heard a PIL by Faisal Banarasiwalla and Abdul Qureshi “to save children and adults” from injuries by sharp weapons, blades, knives and swords in the name of matam (mourning) during the 40 days, from October 25 to December 14. The petition said during matam, “an infant’s forehead is cut with a sharp weapon”, and at some places, “they are made to walk on burning coals”.
The petition said all this happens in public, in police presence. “The knives used for one are used by others too, and may cause blood-transferred and other harmful diseases to innocents in the name of religion,” it added.
The petitioners’ advocate, Gunratan Sadavarte, argued that “Irani Shias do it not only in Mumbai, but in entire Maharashtra”. He said, “Other sects also do matam. But this sort of paying respect is not there in the Quran, the Hadees and the Shariat,” and added that the state had failed to stop it.
The judges remarked that the issue of injuries to children was “very serious”. Kanade asked, “Why should injuries to children below 18 be permitted?” Public prosecutor Sandeep Shinde replied, “Their intention is to have the blessings of some supernatural force.” But Kanade pointed out, “Some of them are infants. It is a very sensitive issue. Normally, nobody tries to venture into such areas, as it is likely to create more problems. Yet somebody must do something to stop this.” Referring to a two-year-old seen in photographs, the judges said the state must “try to stop (such) atrocities on children”.
The judges asked about the religious head of the sect. Shinde said it was better to take religious leaders into confidence, instead of following legal procedure. “We can get the leaders to convince the followers,” he added. Sadavarte said, “Rather than a discussion, steps must be taken soon” as on December 14, in Mumbai, “4,000-5,000 children” will take part. Adjourning the hearing to November 28, the judges said, “Call them (leaders) and instruct them.”