Supreme Court Dismisses 'Frivolous' Plea Seeking to Make Karwa Chauth Compulsory for All Women
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In a stern response to what it termed a "frivolous and motivated" petition, the Supreme Court of India on Monday dismissed a plea that sought to make the celebration of Karwa Chauth — a Hindu festival traditionally observed by married women — mandatory for all women, including widows, divorcees, and those in live-in relationships.
A division bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh refused to interfere with an earlier decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had dismissed the same petition and imposed a symbolic cost of ₹1,000 on the petitioner.
A ‘Frivolous’ and ‘Motivated’ Petition
The Supreme Court echoed the High Court’s criticism of the petition and took strong exception to its contents and intent. Justice Surya Kant observed, “These are funded by actors who don't come forward,” signaling the Court’s concern over politically or ideologically motivated litigation being masked as public interest litigation (PIL).
The bench further remarked that the PIL lacked any legal foundation. The petitioner, Narender Kumar Malhotra, had failed to cite any law or statutory provision that supported the claim that any section of women were being legally barred from celebrating Karwa Chauth.
“The High Court, taking a lenient view, has imposed cost of ₹1,000 only. We do not find any ground to interfere with the impugned order. If the petitioner attempts to file any such petition directly or indirectly, we hope the High Court will take exemplary action,” the Supreme Court said in its order.
The Contentions Raised by the Petitioner
Narender Kumar Malhotra had approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court earlier seeking a declaration from the court to make it legally compulsory for all women, regardless of marital status, to celebrate Karwa Chauth.
The petitioner claimed that the current societal attitude towards widows, divorcees, and women in live-in relationships was discriminatory, as these groups are allegedly discouraged or even prohibited from participating in the traditional puja. He further demanded:
That laws be amended by the Union and Haryana governments to ensure mandatory observance of Karwa Chauth by all women.
That denial of the right to participate in the festival by any person or institution be made punishable by law.
Supreme Court Rejects Plea to Reapproach
After brief arguments, the petitioner’s counsel requested to withdraw the plea with liberty to approach the High Court afresh. However, the Supreme Court refused to grant any liberty, expressing its displeasure at the misuse of the judicial process.
The Court reiterated that such matters lie within the domain of the legislature and individual choice, not the judiciary. Imposing religious or cultural practices through law infringes on the rights to personal liberty, religious freedom, and privacy guaranteed by the Constitution.
Legal Perspective and Broader Implications
This ruling highlights the judiciary’s growing intolerance toward misuse of PILs that seek to impose personal, cultural, or religious beliefs on others. The courts have consistently maintained that public interest litigation must serve genuine public welfare, not ideological agendas.
This judgment also underscores the importance of individual autonomy in practicing religious customs, particularly for women, and reinforces the principle that no citizen can be legally forced to observe a cultural practice.
