Cannot intervene if adult marries as per choice and converts: Cal HC
The high court, in a bid to allay the suspicions of the girl’s father has directed that her statement be taken a 3rd time to ensure no influence or coercion
The Calcutta High Court held that it cannot intervene if an adult marries as per her choice and decides to convert and not return to her paternal house. The two-judge bench of Justices Sanjib Banerjee and Arijit Banerjee passed an order dated December 21 while observing that a 19 year old girl married a person of her choice and does not want to return to her paternal home.
The father of the girl, the petitioner, had raised concerns that his daughter’s statement may not have been recorded in an atmosphere where she felt comfortable and hence, she was made to give her statement before the senior-most Additional District Judge and yet her statement remained the same. The court noted that the father still had his suspicions and hence ordered that the girl meets the Public Prosecutor in his chamber alone and directed the prosecutor to file a report before the court on December 24.
This statement made by the Calcutta High Court comes at a crucial time when courts are increasingly upholding an adult’s right to choose a partner for marriage irrespective of religion as also right of a person to convert even if it is solely for marriage. In both cases, it is a matter of choice and personal right. It appears that state legislatures are at loggerheads with their respective high courts in this matter. As Uttar Pradesh brought in the law against “forced religious conversion”, the Allahabad High Court upheld that “Right to live with a person of his/her choice irrespective of religion professed by them, is intrinsic to right to life and personal liberty. Interference in a personal relationship, would constitute a serious encroachment into the right to freedom of choice of the two individuals.”
Similarly, as Karnataka Assembly contemplates a law on similar lines as the UP law, the Karnataka High Court upheld the right of an adult to marry the person of his/her choice irrespective of caste or religion.
The Calcutta High Court order may be read here.
Related:
Love Jihad: Karnataka legislature vs. judiciary
Cannot intervene if adult marries as per choice and converts: Cal HC
The high court, in a bid to allay the suspicions of the girl’s father has directed that her statement be taken a 3rd time to ensure no influence or coercion
The Calcutta High Court held that it cannot intervene if an adult marries as per her choice and decides to convert and not return to her paternal house. The two-judge bench of Justices Sanjib Banerjee and Arijit Banerjee passed an order dated December 21 while observing that a 19 year old girl married a person of her choice and does not want to return to her paternal home.
The father of the girl, the petitioner, had raised concerns that his daughter’s statement may not have been recorded in an atmosphere where she felt comfortable and hence, she was made to give her statement before the senior-most Additional District Judge and yet her statement remained the same. The court noted that the father still had his suspicions and hence ordered that the girl meets the Public Prosecutor in his chamber alone and directed the prosecutor to file a report before the court on December 24.
This statement made by the Calcutta High Court comes at a crucial time when courts are increasingly upholding an adult’s right to choose a partner for marriage irrespective of religion as also right of a person to convert even if it is solely for marriage. In both cases, it is a matter of choice and personal right. It appears that state legislatures are at loggerheads with their respective high courts in this matter. As Uttar Pradesh brought in the law against “forced religious conversion”, the Allahabad High Court upheld that “Right to live with a person of his/her choice irrespective of religion professed by them, is intrinsic to right to life and personal liberty. Interference in a personal relationship, would constitute a serious encroachment into the right to freedom of choice of the two individuals.”
Similarly, as Karnataka Assembly contemplates a law on similar lines as the UP law, the Karnataka High Court upheld the right of an adult to marry the person of his/her choice irrespective of caste or religion.
The Calcutta High Court order may be read here.
Related:
Love Jihad: Karnataka legislature vs. judiciary
Related articles
Related Articles
Rule of Law
The folly of Supercop characters: A look at how films propagate the normalisation of Police Excess
If there is one film genre that gives a film more than some decent chances at the box office even if it is made with a mediocre script is a Cop Story. Examples include the Dabangg and Singham franchises.
Rule of Law
The folly of Supercop characters: A look at how films propagate the normalisation of Police Excess
If there is one film genre that gives a film more than some decent chances at the box office even if it is made with a mediocre script is a Cop Story. Examples include the Dabangg and Singham franchises.
Theme
Taliban in Afghanistan: A look back
Campaigns
Videos
Communalism
Is Kolkata's Chandrachur Goswami of 'Gandhi-as-mahisasur' fame close to the BJP?
Last month, there had been a huge controversy around All India Hindu Mahasabha’s depiction of Mahatma Gandhi in an `asura` idol at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata. The idol of asura resembling Mahatma Gandhi was installed at the pandal, following which a complaint with the Kolkata Police was filed. After having come under an enraged social media scrutiny, though the organisers denied connection to Gandhi, its state working president Chandrachur Goswami had something else to say. According to his social media, Goswami enjoys close connections with eminent BJP leaders and bureaucrats and openly spreads fake news and hate on his youtube channel.
Communalism
Is Kolkata's Chandrachur Goswami of 'Gandhi-as-mahisasur' fame close to the BJP?
Last month, there had been a huge controversy around All India Hindu Mahasabha’s depiction of Mahatma Gandhi in an `asura` idol at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata. The idol of asura resembling Mahatma Gandhi was installed at the pandal, following which a complaint with the Kolkata Police was filed. After having come under an enraged social media scrutiny, though the organisers denied connection to Gandhi, its state working president Chandrachur Goswami had something else to say. According to his social media, Goswami enjoys close connections with eminent BJP leaders and bureaucrats and openly spreads fake news and hate on his youtube channel.
Archives
IN FACT
Podcasts
Analysis
Taliban in Afghanistan: A look back
Communalism
ABHM leader held while going to recite Hanuman Chalisa at Idgah
P N Sree Harsha 06 Dec 2022
Gender and Sexuality
After furore for slurring women, Ramdev regrets and apologises
Mohammed Baleegh 28 Nov 2022
Communalism
Gyanvapi mosque: Cannot conduct carbon dating of ‘Shivling’, says ASI
