Patna HC comes to rescue of retd judge's daughter

The Patna High Court has come to the rescue of a former Bihar district judge's daughter, who was allegedly detained by her parents for deciding to marry against their wishes, saying no one had the right to curtail her freedom.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Rajendra Menon passed the order yesterday.

The woman, who is in her early 20s and a law graduate, wants to marry a Delhi-based lawyer which was being opposed by her parents.

"She is a free citizen and no one, (not) even her parents have a right to curtail or withhold the freedom available to her under the Constitution", the court observed.

The court had taken suo motu cognizance of a report on a web portal alleging that the woman had been illegally confined by her parents.

The court had on June 26 last, ordered that since the woman was not comfortable with her parents and did not want to stay with them, she be lodged at the guest house of her alma mater in the meantime.

The girl's father retired as District Judge of Khagaria on June 30 last. Earlier, this week, he had issued a press statement accusing his daughter of bringing disrepute to his family and declaring that she was being disowned.

The court said, "The parents are in a state of panic. They are unable to reconcile or accept a situation in which their only daughter has been placed and by filing an interlocutory application.....have expressed certain apprehensions in the matter and want this court to enquire into the apprehension".

"We may indicate that if the parents feel any of their rights have been violated, this order will not curtail their rights in exercise of their legal remedy in any manner", it added.

The court asked the Senior Superintendent of Police, Patna, to give adequate protection to the woman.

The woman also submitted that her original educational testimonials" were with her maternal uncle who was not parting with the same at the instance of her parents.

To this, the court directed her to approach the Patna SSP along with a copy of the order and an application giving particulars of the documents.