Woman is an adult, can live with husband: HC

The Delhi High Court has given its nod to a woman, who entered into wedlock just four days after turning an adult, to live with her husband, rejecting the allegation of her parents that she was a minor and forcibly taken away by him.

It said since she married the man of her own free will and was living happily with him, there was no occasion for it to issue any direction.

It said the woman, who got married against the wishes of her family, being an 18-year-old, was free to make her choice as to whom she wanted to marry.

The woman and her husband are both Muslims.

While her parents claimed that she was a minor and was forcibly taken away by the man, the teenager said she entered into wedlock of her free will four days after turning an adult and did not want to return to her parents.

She also urged the court that security be provided to her, her husband and in-laws as she apprehended a threat from her parents.

A bench of justices S Muralidhar and I S Mehta asked the Delhi Police to assess the requirement and provide appropriate security to them as and when needed.

In its order last week, the court said, "The girl is an adult and is free to make her choice as to whom she wants to marry and whom she wants to live with."
It said, "Her marriage to the man has been verified by the police to be true. Since she has done so of her own free will, there is no occasion for the court to issue any direction in that regard in this petition."