HC directs welfare officer to produce Muslim girl in court

The Madras High Court bench here today directed a district social welfare officer to produce in court a Muslim girl who had been lodged in a children's Home to prevent her marriage under Child Marriage Prevention Act.
Hearing the petition filed by M.Mohamed Abbas, Advocate wing organiser of the Social Democratic Party of India (STPI), a Muslim outfit, a division bench of Justice S.Tamilvanan and Justice V.S.Ravi directed the Virudhunagar district welfare officer to produce the girl on Monday.
The petitioner submitted that the officials had taken the 16-year-old girl from the custody of her parents presuming that they had arranged for her marriage and lodged her at the M.M.S.S.S.Illam for children. The girl was not produced before the judicial magistrate also. Her parents were not allowed to meet her, it was submitted.

The petitioner said the Constitution of India guaranteed right for every religious sect to manage their own affairs in the matters of religion including marriage.
Seeking a direction to officials to free the girl and hand her over to her parents, the petitioner demanded a compensation of Rs.Ten lakh for confining her in a Home.
The petitioner also prayed that the officials should be directed not to interfere with any marriage solmenised as per the Muslim Personal law by invoking the provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.