Supreme Court order on Parsi woman's plea temporary

Goolrookh Gupta and those suffering like her in the city welcomed the Supreme Court's (SC) interim order allowing Gupta and her sisters to attend the funeral prayers at the Tower of Silence in Valsad.

Conservatives on the other hand, said that nothing much should be read into the order.

"10 years of waiting and my struggle for justice especially for women like me are finally coming through... I want my right to enter all worship places like agiyari and Atashberam just like the men from are community who are married outside our faith are allowed to do so without struggle," said Gupta.

"This has cleared the arguments and given a direction to where things will be headed," said Vispy Wadia, a liberal in the community.

Meher Amersey, president of Association of Inter Marriage Zoroastrian said, "These issues work on the whims and fancies of trustees and priests. There is no guarantee that priests will allow women married outside the community to enter, but once the SC passes its order, they will have no choice but to allow us to enter. We are waiting for the case to conclude."

Stating that too much should not be read into the order. Khojestee Mistree, a conservative said, "The order by the SC stating that women can enter the Tower of silence in Valsad Parsi Anjuman is only a temporary concession. It is given on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. It is only a concession and nothing much should be read into it."

Sam Chotia, managing trustee of Valsad Parsi Anjuman said, "The matter has been fixed for hearing on January 17, 2018. It wouldn't be right to state that the SC has permitted the petitioner or any other non Zoroastrian lady to enter the two agiaries in Valsad."

THE CASE SO FAR

December 14, 2017: SC’s interim order grants petitioner permission to enter Tower of Silence to attend funeral service of parents. 

June 2012: Gupta challenges HC order in Supreme Court 

March 23, 2012: Gujarat HC held that upon marriage, religion of wife merges with that of the husband and she does not enjoy any right. 

January 2010: Goolrookh Gupta filed the writ petition before the Gujarat High Court.  

December 2008: issue arose on account of a Parsi Zoroastrian woman married to a non-Parsi, being denied right to attend her father’s funeral.