[Female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is the ritual removal of some or all of the external female genitalia.]
New Delhi: The practice of female genital mutilation of minor girls of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community Monday came under the scanner of the Supreme Court, which termed the issue as "extremely important and sensitive".
A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar sought replies from four union ministries, including the Woman and Child Development and states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Delhi, where Dawoodi Bohras predominantly reside, according to PTI.
"This is an extremely important and sensitive matter," the bench, which also comprised Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul, said, adding that the matter "will take time" and posted the PIL for hearing after the summer vacation.
The bench was hearing a PIL, filed by Delhi-based lawyer Sunita Tiwari, seeking a direction to the Centre and the states to "impose a complete ban on inhuman practice" of 'khatna' or "female genital mutilation" (FGM) throughout the country.
Few months ago, Dawoodi Bohra women had launched an online petition calling the United Nations to recognise India as a country where Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is practiced.
With the UN recognition the Bohra women will be able to make official appeals to the Indian government for a ban on the "horrible" and "violent" practice.
"Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) is an act of violence, physical, emotional, psychological, please help us in eradicating this practice from India", Bohra women activists said in the online petition started on change.org.
"For years, Bohra women have been too scared to speak out about Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C).
"But now under the banner of 'Speak Out On FGM', Bohra women are uniting and speaking out against FGM/C so that our daughters and sisters do not suffer this horrible procedure", the petition said.
The online petition is signed by thousands.
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