Court helps Muslim woman to live with Hindu husband

Coming to the aid of a young Muslim woman who alleged threats from her family after she married a Hindu, the Delhi High Court has allowed them to live together.

Justice Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Ashutosh Kumar told the woman's parents not to interfere in her personal life, saying she was over 18-years old and wanted to live with her husband. The March 24 order came on a habeas corpus plea of the husband Akash, 21, who alleged that his wife's parents were against their marriage and feared they might get her married to someone else.

"We have spoken to the girl and she has stated that she would like to go and live with Akash who is her husband," the bench said. When the case came up for hearing in December 2014, the woman told the court that she had gone willingly with Akash from Delhi to Noida and then returned home of her own will. 

Admitting she was married to Akash, she said she was never detained by Akash against her wishes. She also stated that she wished to reside with her parents and expressed a desire not to lead a married life for the next three years.

The bench then ruled that she could remain with her parents and stay with them in Delhi. The parents were told not to get her married and the police were directed to ensure compliance. But in January, Akash filed an application before the bench saying his wife had told him on phone that she was taken to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh and he apprehended that she was being married to another person.

The court then asked police to ascertain her whereabouts. After the police failed to locate her, the bench summoned the woman and her father. The woman told the court that she was beaten by her family members who wanted her to marry another person. She expressed a desire to live with her husband.