RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Sept.27: The Jharkhand High Court today directed a 26-yr-old girl to turn up before the senior superintendent of police (SSP) for protection of her dignity and life.
Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi passed the order after the lady knocked the door of the high court saying she is a petitioner and is in friendship with a boy, who is of another religion but her family members want to marry her with a person aged 52 years. The lady said she had a threat perception as the family members are forcing her to marry.
“Seeing the urgency in the matter, without calling upon the counter affidavit on behalf of the respondent-State, this writ petition is being disposed of directing the petitioner to appear before the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ranchi by tomorrow. In the event of her appearance, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ranchi shall hear the petitioner and will pass appropriate orders so that her dignity and life be protected. He may do so by way of directing the concerned police station to record her statement and proceed, in accordance with law,” the high court ordered.
The court while disposing of the petition observed that nowadays, educated younger boys and girls are choosing their life partners which, in turn is a departure from the earlier norms of society where caste and community play a major role. There is every likelihood that this is the way forward where caste and community tensions will be reduced by such inter-marriage; however these youngsters face threats by the elders of their own family. The right to marry a person of choice was held to be integral to Article 21 of the Constitution of India where the autonomy of an individual inter alia in relation to family and marriage were held to be integral to the dignity of the individual.”
