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Man Files PIL Asking Karwa Chauth To Be Made Compulsory For All Indian Women

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The Punjab & Haryana High Court recently had the unique privilege of dismissing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought to make Karwa Chauth compulsory for all women—yes, all women, irrespective of whether they were widowed, divorced, separated, or in live-in relationships. Because, apparently, when people say ‘equal rights,’ what they really mean is ‘equal fasting.’

The petitioner, Narender Kumar Malhotra, seemed to believe that Karwa Chauth wasn’t just a personal choice but a universal law waiting to happen. And like every great reformer, he wanted the government to intervene in personal lives, ensuring that no woman was left behind when it came to voluntarily starving for her (possibly non-existent) husband.

The High Court, however, had other ideas—and common sense.

The PIL That No One Asked For

One of the standout demands of the PIL was that Karwa Chauth should be declared as a festival of good fortune for womenfolk—renamed, no less, as Maa Gaura Utsav or Maa Parvati Utsav. Because when all else fails, renaming is always an option in India.

The plea also sought amendments in the law to ensure participation from all women, with non-compliance being punishable. Imagine a scenario where a widow is penalised for not fasting, while her male counterparts continue their lives unbothered, munching on samosas.

The High Court, however, wisely decided not to interfere in what it called the “exclusive domain of the legislature.” Which, in polite legal terms, means: Please don’t bring this nonsense to court. Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel made it clear that mandating fasting wasn’t exactly the kind of legal reform India needed.

Widows, Divorcees, And Live-in Partners

The PIL’s principal argument was that some women—widows, divorcees, and those in live-in relationships—were allegedly denied participation in Karwa Chauth rituals. Now, this would have been a genuine issue if anyone had actually been arrested for attempting to fast. Instead, the petitioner believed that the best way to ‘empower’ these women was to make sure they too were legally obligated to observe a festival rooted in traditional marital roles.

The High Court’s response was refreshingly blunt: just because some people have an opinion on who should or shouldn’t fast doesn’t mean the government needs to create a law about it. The matter, the court said, was beyond its jurisdiction. This is another way of saying, ‘Please, let people live.’


Read More: Lawyers Call Out “Sexist” Event With Dancers Organised By Delhi Bar Association


When Token Costs Are The Best Punishment

While rejecting the plea, the High Court showed immense restraint in its reaction. Instead of launching into a full-fledged legal rant about the absurdity of the petition, it merely imposed a token cost of ₹1,000.

This amount was to be deposited into the Poor Patient Welfare Fund at PGIMER, Chandigarh. A rather fitting end, considering that the most logical diagnosis for the PIL was a severe case of misplaced priorities.

The petitioner, perhaps sensing that his moment of legal glory was slipping away, tried to withdraw the plea. The court allowed it, but not before making it clear that compelling women to celebrate Karwa Chauth was not exactly a pressing national concern.

The Right To Fast, The Right To Feast

This case should serve as a lesson in why personal choices should remain just that—personal. Festivals like Karwa Chauth hold great cultural significance for many, but mandating them through law is about as progressive as criminalising the refusal to participate in Holi.

If anything, this PIL should remind us that while we continue to fight for gender equality, the focus should be on real issues—like equal pay, safety, and workplace rights—not on whether someone chooses to skip a meal for their spouse. And if the petitioner is still keen on legal activism, might we suggest a PIL making Chhole Bhature Sundays compulsory for everyone?

At least then, we’ll all suffer together in the name of good fortune.


Image Credits: Google Images

Sources: Times of India, Hindustan Times, Live Law

Find the blogger: Katyayani Joshi

This post is tagged under: Karwa Chauth, Legal Satire, Women’s Rights, High Court Verdict, PIL India, Gender Equality, Festival Laws, Social Justice, Indian Judiciary, Women Empowerment, Personal Choice, Cultural Norms, Court Ruling, Funny Laws, Indian Festivals, Legal Absurdity, Fasting Rituals, Feminism in India

Disclaimer: We do not hold any right, copyright over any of the images used, these have been taken from Google. In case of credits or removal, the owner may kindly mail us.


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