Jharkhand High Court orders protection after 26-year-old woman claims family forcing her to marry 52-year-old man

Inter-caste and inter-religious marriages help reduce caste and community tensions, the Jharkhand High Court observed on Tuesday while ordering the Ranchi Police to protect the "dignity" of a 26-year-old girl whose family was forcing her to marry a man twice her age [Sana Rashid @ Pammi vs State of Jharkhand]..Single-judge Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi noted that education has played a major role in the trend of youngsters not following the tradition of marrying within the caste or community."Nowadays, educated younger boys and girls are choosing their life partners which, in turn is a departure from the earlier norms of society where caste and community play a major role. There is every likelihood that this is the way forward where caste and community tensions will reduce by such inter-marriage, however these youngsters face threats by the elders of their own family," the judge observed. .The bench was seized of a petition filed by a woman living with her sister and brother-in-law in Ranchi. She stated that she had become friends with a boy belonging to another religion and that her family and other community members were opposing the same. She further contended that her family members were trying to get her married to a 52-year-old man against her wishes. .The bench noted that the girl had made a representation to the State's Governor, Chief Minister and also the police authorities in Ranchi seeking protection from her family members. She stated that she was facing serious threat from her family and community members. .After examining her petition and noting her contentions, the judge said that she was indeed in a serious trouble."The right to marry a person of choice was held to be integral to Article 21 of the Constitution of India where the autonomy of an individual inter alia in relation to family and marriage were held to be integral to the dignity of the individual," the bench observed. .Therefore, the judge, without waiting for the respondent authorities to file their reply in the matter, directed the petitioner-woman to appear before the Superintendent of Police, Ranchi, who was directed to pass an appropriate order so that her "dignity and life" are protected. With these observations, the bench disposed of the petition. .Advocates Navin Kumar and Suraj Verma appeared for the Petitioner. Senior Standing Counsel Shweta Singh along with advocate Neha Pandey represented the State. .[Read Order]