By IANS,
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Friday directed the city police to produce a girl before it on a plea of her husband seeking her release from the “unlawful confinement” by her family.
The husband alleged that the girl’s family had been threatening the couple with severe consequences under the illegal dictat of a ‘khap panchayat’ (kangaroo court).
A division bench of Justice Veena Birbal and Justice Manmohan Singh issued notice to the Delhi Police directing it to file a status report and produce the girl before it June 25, the next date of hearing.
Sunil Kumar, 31, a resident of Ghitorni village in south Delhi, moved the court saying he had married the girl from neighbouring Sultanpur village in Sept 2008 without the consent of their family members.
He pleaded that life and liberty of his and his wife were threatened by illegal (khap) panchayat and its dictates because they married against the convention which is not acceptable to the village panchayat, its members and the family members of his wife.
Counsel Rakesh Kumar appearing for the husband told the court that his client’s wife, 28, was in illegal confinement of her family and panchayat members were forcefully marrying her against her wishes June 27.
Seeking court’s direction to the police to produce his wife before it and ensure their safety, the petition said: “Issue appropriate order/direction ensuring safety and security of the petitioner and his wife in light of the threats to their life and liberty.”
The couple who liked each other from their school days married in 2008 in Arya Samaj Temple without the consent of their family members, who were against their marriage as it was “against convention of people of Gujjar caste of village Sultanpur and Ghitorni to not marry boy or girl from these villages”.
The husband said because of such convention maintained under illegal dictates and command of khap panchayat, they did not disclose about their marriage to their family members. But the girl told her family about it when they were forcefully marrying her to some other person.
Sunil Kumar alleged that the family of his wife refused to accept their marriage, snatched their marriage certificate, and confined her to their house.
On being informed by his wife a few days ago that her family was forcefully marrying her with another person, he lodged a complaint with the city police commissioner and the area deputy commissioner of police.
In his petition, he alleged that ever since the police reached Sultanpur village to enquire about the matter, he had been receiving threatening calls from various people.