Want to be with husband: Hadiya in SC

Kerala woman Hadiya, who has been at the centre of 'love jihad' controversy, on Monday told the Supreme Court that she wanted to be with her husband Shafin Jahan.

The 24-year-old has been in the headlines after she became a Muslim following her marriage to Jahan.

Hadiya said she had married Jahan out of her own will and not forcibly.

The apex court will now hear the case in the third week of January.

During the course of hearing, Hadiya, who was born as Akhila Ashokan, also said she wanted freedom and see her husband after the top court asked whether she would prefer to continue studies.

The top court has now directed Hadiya, who, currently, is in the custody of her parents, be taken to college for her studies and that college should allow facility of hostel to her.

Kapil Sibal, who appeared for Hadiya's husband Jahan argued that when Hadiya was here, the court should listen to her, not the NIA, and that she was entitled to make decisions of her life.

Sibal further said that instead of asking Hadiya what "she wants everyone is talking about the venom filled in news channels".

The top court also ordered Hadiya's college dean to be her guardian after she requested for it.

Meanwhile, counsel for Hadiya's father, Rajendran, argued that the material submitted by National Investigation Agency (NIA) should be looked into while saying a modus operandi exists for conversion.

Earlier, the NIA had submitted a status report in a sealed cover to the top court in connection with the case.

The apex court has been hearing Hadiya's case after Jahan approached the top court following Kerala High Court annulling his marriage with Hadiya.

While Hadiya's parents have been alleging that her marriage was a case of love jihad and that she was converted to Islam forcibly, Hadiya has refuted these claims so far.