Two high priests of Parsi community have filed an affidavit before Gujarat high court, stating that there is no tradition where a girl marrying in another community can enjoy Parsi rights. The affidavit has been filed in response to a writ petition filed by a woman from Valsad some time back.
After taking the affidavit on record, a bench headed by chief justice SJ Mukhopadhay adjourned the case till May 11. The two-page affidavit was filed by Valsad Parsi Anjuman Trust in reply to the petition filed by Goolrokh Gupta (nee Contractor). The affidavit states that, according to the tradition and rituals of the Parsi community, a woman loses her Parsi right once she marries a man from another community. "Therefore, Gupta’s petition can’t be entertained,” said the affidavit.
Goolrokh, a resident of Valsad district, had married to a man from another community in Mumbai in 1991. She has prayed in her PIL before the HC that she should be permitted to enter the Agiyari and attend the last rites of her parents. She has made trustees of Valsad Parsi Anjuman Trust as the respondents to her petition.
Persi Kavina and Adil Mirza, appearing for Goolrokh, submitted before the high court that "discriminatory treatment can’t be given to girls of the community as the boys, who marry in different communities, continue to enjoy all privileges."