Punjab & Haryana HC Dismisses With Cost PIL To Make Karwa Chauth Festival Compulsory For All Women Including Widows, Live-In Partners

The Punjab & Haryana High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking declaration to make celebration of festival of “Karwa Chauth” compulsory by women irrespective of their status of being widows, separated, divorcees and the women in live-in relation.

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel while dismissing the plea imposed a token cost of Rs.1000.

The plea filed by one Narender Kumar Malhotra stated that Karwa Chauth festival may be declared as a festival of good fortunes of women folk or Maa Gaura utsav or Maa Parvati utsav.

It also sought directions to Union and Haryana Government to take suitable measures for implementation of the same provision by doing relevant amendments in law to ensure participation of all the sections and classes of women in the Karwa Chauth Puja held in the evening of the day of festival and the denial or refusal  by any group of persons to such participation must be declared punishable and such action on their part being untenable and liable to be quashed.

After hearing the submissions, the Court noted that "the principal grievance which is projected as a social cause by the petitioner appears to be that certain sections of women, especially widows, are not allowed to perform the rituals of “Karwa Chauth”, therefore, a law be promulgated making it compulsory for all women, without any discrimination, to perform “Karwa Chauth” rituals and in case of default, the act of default should be made punishable."

Declining to interfere in the matter, the bench said that the "subject falls within the exclusive domain of the legislature and this Court"

Consequently, the plea was dismissed as withdrawn with a token costs of Rs. 1,000 to be deposited by the petitioner with the Poor Patient Welfare Fund, PGIMER, Chandigarh."

Mr. Satish Chaudhary, Advocate, and

Mr. Narender Kumar Malhotra – Petitioner in person.

Mr. Satya Pal Jain, Addl. Solicitor General of India, with Ms. Neha Sharma, Advocate, for respondent No.1 – UOI.

Title: Narender Kumar Malhotra v. Union of India and another

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (PH) 27

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