This refers to the report “Hadiya gets freedom for ‘study'” (November 28). Both Hadiya and Shafin Jahan are educated adults and Constitutionally there is no ban for their marriage. Basically, marriage is merely a social custom in every community rather than a religious ceremony. Registration of marriages with appropriate civil authorities is, however, mandatory for obvious reasons. India being a secular democratic republic, the regime is least concerned to interfere in the religious affairs of the people. Albeit, religious zealots are very keen to interfere in inter-caste/religion marriages, apparently to discourage the couples, for vested interests.
Undoubtedly, religious mandarins cannot claim dominance over Constitutional provisions and cannot exercise their authority against the people for whatever reasons. Instead of dragging the issue to the apex court, the same should have been amicably settled between the two families. In extreme situations, an elected regime need not hesitate to exercise its unassailable power against any outfits, to uphold the fundamental rights guaranteed to the citizens by the Constitution. Genuinely, the commonman is worried about the colossal waste of tax-payers' money and precious time of the Supreme Court on an issue that could have been averted