The Supreme Court recently dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought to make the celebration of the Karwa Chauth festival mandatory for all women, including widows, divorcees, and those in live-in relationships. The Court also upheld the earlier order passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had rejected the petition with a cost.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh observed that the petition lacked any legal backing and termed it as “frivolous” and “motivated.”
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“These are funded by actors who don’t come forward,” remarked Justice Surya Kant during the hearing.
The Supreme Court clearly stated that the petitioner failed to present any existing law mandating or even suggesting the compulsory observance of Karwa Chauth by specific sections of women.
“The High Court, taking a lenient view, has imposed cost of Rs.1000 only. We do not find any ground to interfere with the impugned order,” the Court noted.
It further warned the petitioner against filing similar pleas in the future and hoped that the High Court would take strict action if such attempts are made again.
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Narender Kumar Malhotra, the petitioner, had initially filed the PIL before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a declaration to make Karwa Chauth celebration compulsory for all women, regardless of marital or relationship status. He argued that widows and other women were being denied the right to observe the festival, which he believed was discriminatory.
He also requested amendments in laws by the Union and Haryana Governments to mandate participation in Karwa Chauth by all women and to penalize those preventing such participation.
However, the High Court found no merit in the plea and held that such matters are legislative in nature. It dismissed the PIL as withdrawn after the petitioner sought permission to withdraw, while also imposing a token cost of Rs.1000.
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When Malhotra approached the Supreme Court against this decision, the apex court refused to grant any liberty to file a fresh plea and dismissed the petition outright.
Case Title: NARENDER KUMAR MALHOTRA Versus UNION OF INDIA AND ANR., SLP(C) No. 13556/2025
