SC bench to hear plea on FGM
A plea questioning the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) was referred to a Constitution Bench by the Supreme Court on Monday. The practice is prevalent in the Dawoodi Bohra community. The issue was referred to the Constitution Bench on the request of Attorney General KK Venugopal and senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi appearing for the community.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud said they would frame the question for the consideration of the Constitution Bench.
The Centre had described the practice of FGM amongst Dawoodi Bohras as a violation of bodily integrity which is a part of right to privacy and dignity, during an earlier hearing on the case by the three-judge bench.
The practice however, was defended by the community on grounds of the freedom of religion and religious practices.
