Mumbai-based advocate Siddhavidya, who is trying to stop trafficking through surrogacy (artificial pregnancy) and animals, and animal killing

Mumbai-based advocate Siddhavidya was born in Ranchi (Jharkhand). At a young age, she had a remarkable affection towards cows. She used to have dreams about cows. Many times,she had dreams that cows were caught by the butchers and there was no one to protect them. She used to blame herself for that. Thus, she had a strong desire to work for the protection of the cows since childhood. She believes that this could be due to her spiritual practice from the pastlife and her affection towards cows.

Siddhavidya has mastered Kathak dance at Banaras Hindu University. She has also mastered classical singing and dancing. She got a chance to sing at the Kashi Vishweshwar Temple. She learned all these arts with a spiritual perspective. She has also worked with former BJP MP Maneka Gandhi for the protection of animals. Today, we are going to learn about her work as described by herself.

Advocate Siddhavidya

Special Column

The sacrifice by the soldiers and generals for the Hindavi Swarajya as envisaged by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is supreme. Similarly, in the present times, many devout Hindus and patriotic citizens of this country have been striving to protect the Nation and Dharma. The ‘Warriors of Hindutva’ is a series of articles that sheds light on their life and their struggle to protect Hindu Dharma. We hope that it serves as a catalyst for the mission of establishing Hindu Rashtra and inspires many others. – Editor

1. Studied law at Banaras Hindu University and in England

Advocate Siddhavidya did her college education at Banaras Hindu University. In college, she studied ‘Animal Law’. In the year 2006, she went to England to master ‘International Commercial Arbitration’. There, she also studied ‘World Trade Organization Law’ (Laws related to the World Trade Organization) and ‘Human Law’ (Laws related to human rights). After completing her studies, she returned to India. After coming to India, she worked in a private law firm in Delhi. After getting married, she came to Mumbai. After working in a law firm for some time in Mumbai, she started working independently.

2. Working as an advocate for the Maharashtra Government in the Supreme Court to prevent cow slaughter

While practicing law in Maharashtra, advocate Siddhavidya did remarkable work to prevent cow slaughter. She tried to prevent the butchers and other accused involved in cow slaughter from getting bail. She filed petitions on behalf of cow devotees and provided legal assistance to them. When the Cow Slaughter Prohibition Act was introduced in Maharashtra, advocate Siddhavidya helped pass the law. Siddhavidya was appointed as the ‘Advocate of the Government of Maharashtra’ to represent the State Government in the Supreme Court in cow slaughter related cases. Currently, advocate Siddhavidya is working capably as the ‘Advocate of the Government of Maharashtra’ to prevent cow slaughter. When the Bombay High Court dropped 2 sections of the Cow Slaughter Prohibition Act, advocate Siddhavidya filed a scholarly petition in the Supreme Court against it. During this period, she completely closed her office for 2 months and focused only on this petition. During this period, she handed over the responsibility of her cases to her colleagues and gave priority to this case and filed a comprehensive petition in the Supreme Court. The case in this regard is yet to begin.

3. Significant contribution to the introduction of a separate law to prevent illegal trafficking through animals

Live animals were being sold abroad in large number from India. Especially during Eid, goats were being sold to Dubai in large number. Surprisingly, these live animals were being sold abroad at the same price as they were being sold in India. Therefore, there was a possibility that drugs, weapons, corruption money, etc. were being smuggled through the bodies of animals. This transport of animals was happening via sea. Earlier, animals were not checked while being taken abroad. Therefore, it was easy to smuggle illegally through animals. This activity was related to various departments of the Union Government.

Advocate Siddhavidya brought this serious matter to the attention of all the relevant departments of the Union Government. After that, the Government made a law in this regard. Through this law, the transport of animals via sea was banned, and the transport of live animals abroad was also banned. This petition by advocate Siddhavidya curbed anti-national activities. The Union Government made a law to prevent this from happening not only in Maharashtra but also across the country. This turned out to be a great success for the country.

4. Important role in updating the law to prevent rackets running under the guise of ‘surrogacy’

She came to know from a case that a big conspiracy was going on in the name of surrogacy (artificial pregnancy). In this, rich people were bringing poor women from other States to Maharashtra and using their wombs to give birth to children and it was noticed that this practice was going on for commercial purposes. Some hospitals were also involved in this. In these cases, doctors were taking Rs 30-40 lakh from the concerned and giving a small amount of money to the woman who was carrying the fetus. Since giving birth to children through surrogacy is legal in India, it was noticed that many people from abroad were coming to India to give birth to children through it and this practice was going on commercially. It was noticed that there was a big racket involved in this. India had become the hub of surrogacy. Earlier, there was a law for the adoption of children. In this, children could be adopted only through an affidavit; however, when it was noticed that the children adopted through this were being used for evil purposes, it was banned. After the law was banned, those rackets shifted to surrogacy and there was a huge increase in commercial surrogacy across the country, including Maharashtra. In order to bring this to light, an application was made to all the municipal corporations in Maharashtra to get information about surrogacy cases; however, it was reported that not a single hospital in Maharashtra was keeping records of surrogacy information. This was very serious. After advocate Siddhavidya brought this to the notice of the Maharashtra Government, the State Government formed a committee to investigate it. She brought all this to the notice of the Child Rights Protection Commission. Considering the seriousness of this, the Union Government enacted a law and banned commercial surrogacy. Due to this, commercial rackets operating through surrogacy were banned. The law has stipulated that a woman who is related to one’s own family and acquaintances can only be engaged in surrogacy. Advocate Siddhavidya played an important role in stopping the immoral racket involved in commercial surrogacy in Maharashtra and across the country. This resulted in the prevention of immoral businesses and human trafficking through commercial surrogacy, which was a major achievement.

5. Critical work to prevent Love Jihad

While fighting a case of assault on a young woman, advocate Siddhavidya realized that it was a case of Love Jihad. She did not know much about ‘Love Jihad’ earlier; however, she came to know that some Muslim young men from Bihar, who were already married, were luring Hindu young women into relationship and marrying them in Maharashtra. Those men hid the fact that they were married. A similar incident also happened with a Buddhist young woman who came to her. After that, when some other such cases came to her for legal help, she realized that this was a form of Jihad called ‘Love Jihad’. With the help of pro-Hindu organizations, she started providing legal assistance and educating young women trapped in Love Jihad.

6. Successful attempt to prevent open animal slaughter in Mumbai

During the Eid period, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation gave online permission to slaughter animals. Due to this, animals were being slaughtered openly on the streets and in societies in Mumbai. Advocate Siddhavidya filed a petition in the Bombay High Court to prevent online permission to slaughter animals. In order to highlight the seriousness of this case, she and her fellow advocate filed online applications with the Mumbai Municipal Corporation in the Court of Justice Oak, as well as in the Court of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, to slaughter animals. The Municipal Corporation allowed both these applications. Advocate Siddhavidya submitted these permissions before the bench of Justice Oak in the Bombay High Court. Due to this, the High Court realized the horror of online permission for animal slaughter. Later the Mumbai Municipal Corporation stopped giving online permission for animal slaughter. The open killing of animals in Mumbai stopped due to the efforts of advocate Siddhavidya and her fellow advocate.

7. Raised voice against the pathetic condition of animal transportation

In Maharashtra, animals are loaded into vehicles in very pathetic conditions while transporting them. Despite the law in this regard, even the officials of the Motor Traffic Department are not particularly aware of it. Advocate Siddhavidya brought this malpractice to notice of the Bombay High Court. She has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court regarding this. The case is still pending.

8. Efforts to create a system for implementation of the Court orders

Orders are issued by the Supreme Court or High Courts from time to time in the interest of society or observations are recorded in the interest of society; however, they are not followed. Due to this, citizens have to go to theCourts again and again, which wastes Court’s time as well as the citizens’ time. If the petitioner dies, there is no one to look at the status of his PIL. Advocate Siddhavidya has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court demanding a system to keep a check on whether the orders and observations of the Courts are followed or not.

Along with this, she is also working on tree plantation, getting space for cows while acquiring land for the construction of the Navi Mumbai airport, removal of encroachment on the grasslands etc. Advocate Siddhavidya is working on various issues. Considering her significant contribution to social work, various organizations and institutions have honoured her with several awards.

Successful legal fight against Banaras Hindu University for truth

Siddhavidya was working as a student leader at Banaras Hindu University. At this time, while fighting for the rights of the students, she was expelled from the university. She filed a case against the university in the Allahabad High Court. The verdict of this case was in her favour. The Court ordered to readmit her to the university; however, even after the Court order, she was not given admission to the university. The decision of the High Court was not followed. Therefore, she filed a contempt petition. The High Court ordered to admit her to the university, as well as to allow her to appear for the examination and to arrest the vice-chancellor of the university. Later, after Siddhavidyaappeared for the examination, she was not given her result and mark sheet. She again filed a petition in the High Court against this. Finally, Banaras Hindu University sent her result and mark sheet to her home. In this way, she fought legally for her rights and truth even during her college days. It is admirable that she presented her own side in all these legal battles and succeeded. This shows that she had the courage to fight for truth right from her student days.

Later, Siddhavidya studied law at Banaras Hindu University and topped among the female students in the batch. The university awarded her ascholarship.

‘Siddhavidya’ name given by Shankaracharya

Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati

Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati of Dwarka had installed a Shivalinga at Siddhavidya’s house. Therefore, she used to worship Shiva since her childhood. Siddhavidya’s father had taken initiation from Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati of Dwarka. When Siddhavidya was 6 years old, her father took her to Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati. At that time, Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand, seeing this little girl, personally named her ‘Siddhavidya’. At this time, Shankaracharya told Siddhavidya’s father, ‘No other name should be added to this name, i.e.Siddhavidya. This girl will work for the nation and society.’ Hence, her name was changed to ‘Siddhavidya’ and the same was mentioned in her school, college, and even after marriage.