The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the Jabalpur Superintendent of Police to provide security to a couple wishing to have an inter-religious marriage. The court has also directed the police to take the Hindu girl and the Muslim youth who want to get married to separate safe places till November 11.
Earlier on Monday, this controversy heated up when Telangana BJP MLA T. Raja released a video message calling this marriage a part of love jihad and appealed to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to stop this marriage.
In this case, while hearing the petition filed by the young man and the girl, Justice Vishal Dhagat said that ‘both the petitioners (petitioners number 1 and 2) have been called to the court room and their statements have been recorded in the chamber, because the relatives of the petitioners are in the court. Could have troubled.
According to the court, both the petitioners told the court that they have been living in a live-in relationship for the last one year and want to get married. They say that they should be given police protection, otherwise petitioner No. 1 (female) may be kidnapped by her family members. Both of them are not even able to do their work, and their lives and body parts are in danger.
The High Court said, ‘Since there is a high possibility of attack on petitioners 1 and 2, the Superintendent of Police, Jabalpur is directed to provide police protection to petitioner No. 1.’
The judge said that a police team will take the woman to the place where she is staying and allow her to collect all her belongings. He said, after collecting the said items, she will be taken to an institution like Nari Niketan where she will be provided accommodation, food and a safe place to sleep.
The court said the girl will remain there till November 11 and will not be able to have contact with family members or the Muslim man she is in a relationship with. The court further said that during this period the girl is free to think about her decision to marry petitioner no. 2.
The court order said that on November 12, the girl’s statement will be recorded before the marriage registrar to conduct the marriage under the Special Marriage Act.
Along with this, the court said that her Muslim lover will also be given security and for his safety the police will take him to an unknown place. When circumstances become favourable, he will be taken to his home and released with family members, the court said.
The order states, ‘If any person seeks to forcibly approach petitioners Nos. 1 and 2 and commits the offense of wrongful restraint or use of criminal force, the Superintendent of Police shall direct the Superintendent of Police to register a case against such person and prosecute him as per law. Instructions are given to take action accordingly.
On Monday, Hindu Seva Parishad chief Atul Jeswani had said that BJP MLA T. Raja had sent him a video message, following which he met Jabalpur Collector Pushpendra Ahke and asked him to cancel the couple’s application under the Special Marriage Act. Had requested. He said his organization had given a “memorandum against love jihad” to the district collector.
‘Love Jihad’ is a term used by right-wing groups to describe the alleged campaign by Muslim men to convert Hindu girls through marriage.
