HC warns family of eloped girl against harassing couple

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday warned the family of a girl who had eloped and married a man much against their wishes, to allow the married couple to live in peace.

A division bench comprising Justice B S Patil and Justice N K Sudhindra Rao said if members of the girl’s family try to create any ruckus and cause any disharmony between the couple, then they would be compelled to put them behind bars.

The girl’s brother had approached the high court with a habeas corpus petition seeking directions to produce his sister before the court. On Monday, after the preliminary hearing of the case, there was a scuffle between the girl’s husband and the petitioner’s advocate outside the court room.  The girl’s brother had taken his sister to another place much against the wishes of her husband. The bench had ordered police protection for the couple on Monday.

During the hearing on Tuesday, the bench observed that members of the girl’s family were only shedding crocodile tears in the court and were going against the law outside the court room. The girl’s family had objection to her relationship with the boy as he belonged to another caste. The bench said that as both the boy and the girl have attained majority, they have the right to be married under law. The bench disposed of the petition uniting the couple.