Surpanakha Dahan in Indore: May challenge High Court order by moving double bench

The High Court directed not to burn effigies of Sonam Raghuwanshi or any other individual. The petition, filed by Sonam’s relatives and the Raghuwanshi community, argued that replacing Ravan’s effigy with Sonam’s was an act of conspiracy linked to her alleged involvement in the murder of her husband. The petitioner’s lawyer stressed that such an act violated fundamental rights and legal principles.

Controversy

The effigy was designed to symbolize women who betrayed or killed their husbands. Earlier, in 2023, Paurush attempted to burn the effigy of a demoness to protest against issues like false dowry cases, marital harassment, and extramarital affairs. That year, however, the effigy was confiscated by police under election commission directives, since the model code of conduct was in force.

Decision

With Vijayadashami falling on October 2, and only three days remaining, Paurush is expected to finalize its decision today.

Options

·         Appealing against the single bench order before the double bench.

·         Burning an effigy without any identifiable face or name.

·         Using mythological figures like Putna, Surasa, Tadaka, or Bakasurni in place of Shurpanakha.

·         Employing AI-generated faces that do not resemble any prohibited identities.

·         Citing the 2015 Madras High Court ruling, which upheld effigy burning as a form of free expression.

·         Referring to the Supreme Court’s recent decision that decriminalized defamation, making it a civil, not criminal, matter.

·         Following the traditional practice of burning only Ravan’s effigy on Vijayadashami.