Jain Dharma's Santhara Practice: Legal and Ethical Contestation
By Mikaela Chase
Summary
The practice of santhara, a Jain ritual of voluntary fasting unto death, has roots dating back to at least the 1st century BCE, with scholarly research documenting its historical and ethical dimensions. By the 1960s, discussions began to anticipate its entry into broader medical and legal debates, particularly regarding comparisons to suicide and euthanasia. The practice gained legal attention in 2006 during the public interest litigation case *Nzkhil Soni v. Union of India*, where it faced scrutiny over its ethical and legal implications. A short-lived 2015 ban on santhara was later overturned by India’s Supreme Court, reflecting ongoing contestation and defense by Jain legal advocates. Jain studies in India have seen renewed interest in the practice, with scholars drawing from historical and textual archives to support its defense. The debate continues to involve ethical, medical, and legal perspectives, highlighting the tension between Jain ascetic ideals and contemporary ethical frameworks. Mikaela Chase, a researcher in this field, examines the negotiation of moral agency and ethical self-fashioning within the practice, supported by institutions like the Wenner Gren Foundation and the American Institute of Indian Studies.
Conclusion
The document highlights the complex legal and ethical debates surrounding santhara, a Jain practice of voluntary fasting unto death, particularly in the context of the 2006 Nzkhil Soni case and the short-lived 2015 ban. It underscores the tension between Jain religious rights and legal concerns over euthanasia, emphasizing the need for nuanced ethical discourse. The research also reflects a broader resurgence in Jain studies, which has provided legal advocates with historical and scholarly tools to defend the practice. The Supreme Court’s overturning of the ban suggests a growing recognition of religious autonomy, though the debate continues to raise questions about moral agency, medical ethics, and the limits of legal intervention in deeply held beliefs.