Jaipur: Several women’s organisations in Rajasthan have strongly condemned the recent acquittal of individuals accused in the 1987 Sati Glorification cases. They have urged Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to ensure that an appeal is filed against the verdicts and that justice prevails.
The joint statement, issued by these groups, highlights their decades-long efforts against the glorification of Sati, following the tragic incident of 19-year-old Roop Kanwar, who was forced onto her husband’s funeral pyre in 1987. The Rajasthan Ordinance against Sati, along with the Commission of Sati Prevention Act of 1987, was enacted in response to this horrific act, but the groups are dismayed by the judicial delays and the recent acquittals.
“We, as part of the women’s movement in Rajasthan, have been tirelessly working on the Sati case since 4th September 1987. The recent acquittals, like many before them, only serve to reinforce a culture of Sati glorification. This failure in delivering justice is deeply concerning,” the statement read.
The women’s organisations pointed out that on January 31, 2004, more than 17 individuals were acquitted, including prominent figures such as former Health Minister Rajendra Singh Rathore and former Food and Transport Minister Pratap Singh Kachariywas. Despite strong evidence, the Rajasthan government’s legal department chose not to appeal the verdicts. Efforts by the women’s groups to challenge the acquittals were met with resistance, with the then Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje refusing to pursue further legal action.
Frustrated by the government’s inaction, 14 organisations and individuals filed a civil writ petition in the Rajasthan High Court, requesting an appeal against the acquittals. However, the case has been pending for the past 20 years.
The statement also criticised successive Rajasthan governments, including the one led by Ashok Gehlot, for their reluctance to take legal action, citing political concerns over the Rajput vote bank.
The organisations are now calling on the current government, led by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, to file an appeal within the stipulated 90-day period. They also demand that the 2004 cases be revisited and that those responsible for promoting the culture of Sati in the state be held accountable.
The statement was issued by a coalition of prominent women’s organisations, including the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (Kavita Srivastava), All India Democratic Women’s Association (Sumitra Chopra), National Federation of Indian Women (Nisha Sidhu), and others.
The groups maintain that swift legal action is necessary to prevent the continued glorification of Sati and ensure that the law is upheld.
