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PARENTS BLAMED FOR DEATH OF HYDERABAD GIRL
9th October 2016, Hyderabad : The parents and other family members of 'Aradhana'a 13-year-old girl, who died after undertaking a 68-day fast as part of a community ritual, have been booked on the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder for causing her death. Based on a complaint lodged by a local child rights NGO (Child Rights Association) with police, the case was registered under section 304 (II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of IPC and section 75 of JJ (Juvenile Justice) Act. "President of Shree Simandhar Digambar Jain Mandir, Ramkote, said that it was objectionable that a minor was allowed to observe such a long fasting. AP State Commission for Protection of Child Rights member said, below the age of 18 child's
consent does not amount to consent. Quoting the Convention of Rights for Child
article that mandates adults / guardians to take decisions based on best consent does not amount to consent. Quoting the Convention of Rights for Child article that mandates adults / guardians to take decisions based on ‘best interests of child'. " Making a child starve to death, even if parents say that it is in the best interests of the child or according to
Media trial of the unfortunate incident is upsetting for the entire Jain community. Its a matter of fact that, "Our ancient religion is very scientific and we do not believe in superstitions. Tapasya is a ritual which has been followed by believers of the community from ages and it has well established rules. "Aradhana had also successfully completed 34-day tapasya last year. Even now, before the unfortunate and tragic demise, she completed the 68-day tapasya and then went to have liquid diet as prescribed by the practitioners of tapasya." Some community elders also feel, the family members are responsible as they failed to take precautionary measures during the minor’s fasting. The girl was a student of class VIII in a Private School.
It is also a matter of fact that, this was clearly an extreme case, one in which a minor girl paid a fatal price for religious indoctrination. But away from the media glare, perhaps in less severe ways, thousands of children in India continue to suffer the consequences of their
parent' religious faith or practices.
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