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Don't come to court for hearing on Mohurrum tradition PIL: Bombay High Court to Shias

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The Bombay High Court has asked Shia Muslims to not remain present in court on Tuesday for the hearing on a public interest litigation which talks about injuries inflicted on children during Mohurrum.
The PIL seeks direction to authorities not to allow children to be hurt by sharp weapons like knives and swords during the matam procession.

A division bench of justices VM Kanade and Anuja Prabhudessai said, "Don't get this crowd to the court, we are not passing any orders unless we hear all the parties and examine everything."
The court allowed around 70 intervention applications filed by individuals, trust and organisations seeking to be heard in the PIL. It also made a suggestion that the intervener can appoint a single counsel to put forth their case. However, the parties refused the suggestion, stating everyone needed to be heard separately.

The court allowed the applications while hearing the PIL filed by Mohammed Ali Road resident Faizal Banaraswala, 44, and Yari Road resident Abdul Rehman Quereshi, 38. They contended that inflicting injuries on children amounted to violation of their fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India.
Advocate Gunuratan Sadavarte submitted that as per religious tradition, followed especially by Irani Shia Muslims, Mohurrum is observed for 40 days, and this year it has started from October 25 and will continue till December 14. During this period, everyday, matam is performed at some place or the other across the city during which injuries are inflicted on children using sharp weapons, the lawyer said.

What's worse, he added, is that the same knife or sword is used to injure more than one person and, therefore, poses a risk of diseases spreading through blood. He submitted that apart from being violative of fundamental rights of children, the act was also prohibited under the newly enacted legislation — the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifices and Other Inhuman Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act.
The court has posted hearing on the petition to December 2.

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