Abhinav Garg | TNN | Jun 27, 2015, 01.34 AM IST
NEW DELHI: In a city where police and judges often come across brutal crimes done in the name of property or inheritance, a Muslim couple’s bid to raise two Hindu orphans has earned praise from the Delhi high court. Moved by what it termed a “noble endeavour”, the HC recently appointed Mohd Shahnawaz Zaheer, a commercial pilot, as the guardian of twins Ayush and Prarthana under the Hindu Minority & Guardianship Act.
In his landmark order allowing cross-religion guardianship, Justice Najmi Waziri also approved a Trust set up in the name of the siblings, where the Indian Commercial Pilots Association and other well-wishers have contributed over Rs 1 crore. By virtue, the entire estate and remaining wealth of the dead parents will automatically go to the Trust and not to the guardian.
When TOI visited the Zaheer household earlier this week, it found the twins bonding well with the family. Zaheer said, “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 also disclosed how the court has entrusted one Arun Saini, a willing neighbour, to make sure the children receive Hindu religious instructions and can visit temple for prayers. “I don’t want them to ever convert. They will be raised as Hindus,” he said.