Pakistan

Muslim pilot in India appointed guardian of orphaned Hindu children

Ground-breaking decision by the Delhi High Court is being praised and perceived as a cross-religion triumph

Web Desk June 28, 2015

PHOTO COURTESY: INDIATIMES

NEW DELHI: Indian Muslim pilot Muhammad Shah Nawaz Zaheer was appointed the guardian of two orphaned Hindu children in a ground-breaking decision by the Delhi High Court.

Terming the move a ‘noble endeavour’, the Delhi High Court appointed Zaheer as the guardian of twins Ayush and Prarthana under the Hindu Minority & Guardianship Act.

The parents of the twins, Praveen Dayal and Kavita Dayal, died in 2012 and Zaheer was appointed to take care of the children since. However, after claims from distant cousins and family over Dayal's property, the commerical pilot filed a suit for the guardianship of the children.

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During the hearing, Justice Najmi Waziri also directed a trust be set up in the name of the children. Contributions of nearly Rs10 million were made by well-wishers and the Indian Commercial Pilots Association. The entire estate of the parents will go directly to the trust and not the guardian.

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The court ensured that all the funds the twins are entitled to are kept in ‘Aayush Prarthana Benevolent Trust’ until they reach the age of 25 years.

"It is, therefore, directed that all banks, financial institutions and insurance companies shall make all payments, maturity or redemption amounts, etc apropos the estate of late Praveen Dayal and late Kavita Dayal in the name of Aayush Prarthana Benevolent Trust."

The court also entrusted Arun Saini, a willing neighbour the task of instructing the children with Hindu traditions and Zaheer ensured that the children will be raised as Hindus.

The case is being praised and perceived as a cross-religion triumph.

"The HC order streamlined everything to allow the twins to integrate with us. I have a three-storey house and my in-laws and parents live with me. Ayush and Prarthana are the cynosure of their eyes. Since the court appointed me as guardian, now they will get a passport and can travel abroad with us,” Zaheer said, while speaking to the Times of India.

This article originally appeared on Times of India.

COMMENTS (19)

Timorlane | 9 years ago | Reply RSS terrorists may soon create a scandal against the poor pilot so better hand over the children to a hindu institution or Muslim pilot and his family maybe burned alive by hindu RSS terrorists like they burned alive Pakistani children, women and men in Samjhota Express

Milind | 9 years ago | Reply @Shahid - I like your standup act.

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Saleh WaleiSalam | 9 years ago | Reply While such news is most welcome. The court should not decide which religion the children should be raised into. This matter should be left to the guardian.

Krish | 9 years ago | Reply It shows the broad-mindedness of not only the Muslim family but the judge also who seems to be a pioneer in passing such an extraordinary judgement. This is nothing but victory of the humanity which should be placed above all religion. If the kids today can take the lessons of humanity from their Guardian, I dont think they need to practice any religion.

frntm | 9 years ago | Reply Such a beautiful story! Very inspiring.

raghu reddy | 9 years ago | Reply Good job. That man was given job because he was their well known good neighbor. That should work.Since there are a bigger family, kids will love it. Judge gave the kids to neighbor because the relatives were claiming the property.Shame!!. Its their right ti fight. But its their duty also to convince judge that they will take care of kids without misusing their new power to capture property. Good judge wasnt convinced.

Maqbool Bhat | 9 years ago | Reply @shahid: Sheer nonsense

san | 9 years ago | Reply Kudos! Only Indian Muslims will show such a true spirit of coexistence and compassion.

Prakash | 9 years ago | Reply @shahid: I find that there is lot of confusion in the world (even amongst Muslims) as to who is a Muslim and who is not. It is high time a religious scholar like you stand up and tell them!

Jalal | 9 years ago | Reply @pk:

Only Indian Muslims can show to the world, how to live with Non-Muslims

Last I heard they made a separate country under two nation (we cant live with non-Muslims) theory.

Bibi | 9 years ago | Reply This is the true spirit of Islam, I endorse the gesture. I would do the same, given the opportunity, without touching their religion, and I'm from Pakistan.

hnr | 9 years ago | Reply This only proves that being human is more important than one's faith which is a personal affair.

shahid | 9 years ago | Reply In HINDUS-tan there are no muslims, only HINDUS with Muslim names. I am living with most of them and all theur acts and cultural rituals including marriages are same as HINDU rituals and acts.. So much so they even behave act say and perform all HINDU words and actions.. So saying that a muslim appointed guardian of Hindu orphan children is false. Courts do not want discord and clash of religious beliefs and cultures.. This court was convinced that this so called muslim family would be best home for the Hindu children as these muslims are almost same as hindus and at home all rituals can be performed along with the new guardians as they also are doing the same Hindu rituals..

jay | 9 years ago | Reply I understood that such incidents are like miracle or impossible in pakistan

Sanjay Sharma | 9 years ago | Reply Life is beautiful.

IndianDude | 9 years ago | Reply I have always said that majority of Indian muslims are the best mslims of the ummah. The Indian Muslims should be the flag bearer of Islam, if Islam wants to be treated as a peaceful religion, not the self-proclaimed true muslims from SA and the land of pure. Proud of Indian muslims!

Naren | 9 years ago | Reply @SEAsian: It is indeed a big news for Pakistan as this kind of situation and judgement is hardly possible. Above all it is triumph of humanity.

SEAsian | 9 years ago | Reply I don't know why such a big deal is being made about the religion.

pk | 9 years ago | Reply Only Indian Muslims can show to the world, how to live with Non-Muslims. A concept of nation building on the basis of one faith supremacy over another is bound to fail.

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