New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) The Delhi High Court has directed the city police to provide adequate protection to a 21-year-old woman apprehending threat to her life from her parents as she opposed their plan to marry her off against her wishes.
Justice V.P. Vaish allowed the plea of the woman saying: “The State is directed to provide adequate protection to the petitioner (woman) by providing telephone number of a police official so that she can make a call, if needed.”
The court also accepted the undertaking given by the father of woman not to threaten or harass her.
Standing counsel for the Delhi government Pawan Sharma told the court that the state will provide adequate police protection to the petitioner and will also provide her the telephone number of a police official so that she can make a call immediately in case of emergency.
The woman, a resident of Mandawali area in east Delhi and working in a private firm, pleaded in the court that she was compelled to discontinue her study and employment for her marriage with an unemployed person against her wishes and desire.
“Under the parents’ pressure, the petitioner initially agreed to the marriage but after meeting the proposed bridegroom, she had to change her decision as the boy was semi-literate and unemployed,” the plea said.
It added: “The proposed groom was dependent on his parents for day-to-day expenses and it was extremely difficult for the girl to continue her study and employment after getting married to the proposed bride-groom.”
After she opposed their plan, the parents started harassing her and stopped her from going to the office. The plea said they also compelled her to consent to marriage. The marriage was to be solemnised within one month against her wishes and desire.
The petition added: “As the petitioner was not at all willing for the marriage, it became impossible for her to continue to live with her parents and under these compelling circumstances, the petitioner took a very drastic decision of leaving her home.”
The lawyer appearing for the woman told the court that she wanted to stay in a paying guest accommodation to pursue her career. The plea sought direction for police to provide her protection as she apprehended threat to her life from her father.
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by authors, news service providers on this page do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Hill Post. Any views or opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual.
Hill Post makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site page.
