Amend the stand

Adding to the choir of those demanding equal rights for the children of Parsi women married to non-Parsis was The Bombay Samachar columnist Berjis Desai.

In a Sunday editorial, dated July 18, 2004, titled "Intermarriages revisited: It’s all about sonny, honey!” Desai stated: "Before history laughs at us even more let us mend our act and accept these children as Parsi Zoroastrians.”

Believing that it would be worthwhile to seek legal redress Desai commented: "Legal opinion is divided. A section feels that Bella vs Saklat and Petit vs Jejeebhoy, the pre-Independence judgments are no longer good law. The Indian Constitution guaran­tees equality of the sexes and treating the children of similarly married Parsi men differently is discrimination. Modern day judges will have overwhelming sympathy for the ladies and a historic judgment will follow. Of course, this matter will take time and go up to the Supreme Court. The other view is that courts will be inclined to honor the community views and practice, and not judge the matter by secular standards.”