Before the Goolrookh Gupta matter comes up in the Supreme Court ("Question of identity,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, May 7, 2017), the orthodox say "God forbid if she succeeds!” On the contrary they should pray that she succeeds. If she loses and if the Court rules that interfaith married women should follow the husband’s religion, then every Mary, Priscilla, Rosy, Shantabai, Manjulaben married to a Rustomji or Sorabji will become Mehramai, Paricher, Roshan, Shirinbai and Maharukh. Ervads Framroze Mirza and Khushroo Madon will have to work overtime performing their navjotes.
Who brought about this situation? Certainly not Goolrookh Gupta. They say that it is a game of money power. Where does money power come into the picture? All her counsels are fighting pro bono.
If marriages are purely religious sacraments/vows as the orthodox contend, then who issues marriage registration certificates? Not the religious heads. Why is the Matrimonial Court approached for dissolution of "religious vows?” And why are lawyers engaged to plead their case and not the priests?
Where is it written that courts should not interfere in religious matters? It is the judiciary that banned the evil, religious customs of sati, human sacrifice, child marriage. The law of the land is superior to religious fatwas.
How can trust deeds and rules formed by fire temples override a court’s ruling? They would be in contempt of court.
The dhongis need to introspect and point out where it is stated that there should not be any interfaith marriages. Three sons of not one, but two vada dasturs have married outside the faith as have many practising mobeds. HOMI DALAL
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