According to the Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987, which of the following women cannot be called 'Sati'? 

The correct answer is 'None of these'.

Key Points

• The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 was passed to prevent the practice of Sati, which is the act of a widow self-immolating or being forced to immolate herself on her husband's funeral pyre.
• According to the Act, Sati is strictly prohibited, and any woman who is forced or incited into this practice is protected under the law.

Let's break down the two options:

• A woman being burnt alive along with the body of her relative voluntarily.

  • Even if the woman voluntarily agrees to be burnt alive along with a relative (like a husband or another person), this action does not legally constitute Sati under the Act. This is because the law primarily focuses on the widowhood aspect and the unlawful act of forcing or encouraging a woman to participate in such a practice. While the Act criminalizes the practice, a voluntary act is still not considered as 'Sati' under the legal definitions.

• A widow being burnt alive along with the body of her deceased husband forcibly.

  • In this scenario, the woman is forcibly made to perform the act, which clearly falls under the definition of Sati as it involves coercion and is illegal under the Act. However, the law provides protection to the widow, making it clear that even if the widow is forced, she cannot be called a 'Sati' in the legal sense, as she is a victim of coercion, and perpetrators (those forcing her) would be held liable.