Inter-caste marriage turns sour, court unable to give divorce

An inter-caste marriage turned sour right on the day of the wedding but a Delhi court, finding itself in a peculiar situation, expressed its inability to grant divorce or help the parties reach an agreement.

The court found itself in a tight spot as the woman in her divorce plea simply said it was a "mistake" to tie the knot with a man, who complained of being forced and threatened to sign the documents for dissolving the marriage by his father-in-law, a policeman, for belonging to different caste.

The family court presided by Principal Judge Girish Kathpalia observed that any opposition to marriage on the ground of caste difference is in "violation of law" and persuaded in vain that the couple lived together.

The court proceedings for the moment has been brought to an end as the wife had to withdraw the petition which was devoid of mutual consent of the husband.

The wife had claimed that she had not lived a single day at her matrimonial house as immediately after registering the marriage she realised her mistake of entering into the wedlock.

"Father of woman is also present in the court room and I heard him also in an effort to convey that merely because the husband and wife belong to different castes, there is nothing objectionable if they want to enter into matrimony and any such opposition based on caste difference is in violation of law," the judge said.

"Despite my extensive efforts to put across the parties that we need to shun away the objection to inter caste marriages, I could not succeed in making parties agree to resume matrimony," the judge added.

The woman's father, an Assistant Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police posted at the Supreme Court, denied threatening his son-in-law.

While declaring the petition dismissed as withdrawn, the court kept in mind the seriousness of the allegations against the wife's father and asked the Delhi Police Commissioner to ensure police protection to the husband and his mother as well as to the woman and her family.

"Delhi Police shall specifically ensure that no harm is caused to the man or his mother by the woman's father.

"At this stage, the woman also expresses apprehension that something wrong can happen to her and her family also. In that regard also, Delhi Police shall ensure protection to the woman and her family," the court said.

On being asked by the court if the marriage was with the consent of their parents, the couple replied in negative.

The man and woman had married against the wishes of their families in January 2014 as the woman's father was against their relationship due to caste difference.