Agra, Aug 24 (IANS): Thousands of members of the Jain community protested against the Rajasthan High Court ruling banning 'santhara' (fasting to death) practice here on Monday.

The protesters assembled at 80-odd temples in the city and then marched towards the meeting ground in Chipi Tola from where they reached the district headquarters to present a memorandum to district magistrate Pankaj Kumar, addressed to the President of India.

The main Chipi Tola and Lohamandi markets remained closed due to the protest by the Jain community members belonging to both Digambar and Shwetambar sects. Jain educational institutions here also remained closed.

In Mathura also, the Jains held a protest march and presented a memorandum to district magistrate Rajesh Kumar.

Jain community leaders said 'santhara' was a religious practice and could not be compared with suicide or euthanasia.

K.C. Jain, a senior advocate of Agra, told IANS that "only when one of the four conditions is fulfilled can a person opt for 'santhara'. Under the Indian constitution, it is a religious right and everyone is free to practice his or her faith. The state should refrain from interfering in such matters."

Vinoba Bhave too opted for 'santhara', he added.

The Rajasthan High Court on August 10 ruled that the practice of starving to death for 'moksha' was punishable under sections 306 and 309 of the Indian Penal Code.