HC to consider religious relevance of child diksha

The Bombay high court is likely to take into consideration the religious aspects of Jainism while deciding if a child could be allowed to renounce material world and become a sadhvi or sadhu by taking diksha (vow to lead a life of spirituality and celibacy).

The Bombay high court is likely to take into consideration the religious aspects of Jainism while deciding if a child could be allowed to renounce material world and become a sadhvi or sadhu by taking diksha (vow to lead a life of spirituality and celibacy).

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The division bench of justice PB Majmudar and justice Mridula Bhatkar on Tuesday allowed Ashok Bagricha, an Indore resident whose eight-year-old daughter took diksha in March 2004, to submit religious scripts showing it was an essential and integral part of Jain religion.

The court also allowed some interveners in the matter to place on record religious material in support of their respective claims.

The permission followed a plea from senior advocate Shrihari Ane, representing Bagricha, seeking permission to tender religious material showing diksha was an essential and integral part of the religion. The court has given them time till December 14, when the petition will come up for further hearing.