Hadiya to resume studies under previous Hindu name

Hadiya, a woman from Kerala who is at the centre of a 'love jihad' case, will resume her homoeopathy studies under her previous Hindu name.

Accompanied by the Kerala Police, Hadiya (25) flew to Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu from Delhi and headed to Salem by road to resume her studies at Sivaraj Medical College, as directed by the apex court on Monday.

She will undergo an 11-month internship in homoeopathy.

A Hindu by birth, named Akhila Ashokan, she had converted to Islam several months before her marriage.

A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra had given its direction after interacting with Hadiya, even as she pleaded that she should be allowed to join her husband Shafin Jahan.

The principal of Sivaraj Medical College, G Kannan, said no special treatment will be given to Hadiya.

Hadiya will be registered under her Hindu name Akhila Ashokan. Her admission process has commenced and she will begin attending classes on Wednesday, Kannan told reporters.

Hadiya was with her parents for almost six months after the Kerala High Court annulled her 'nikah' with Shafin.

The apex court has appointed the dean of the college as Hadiya's guardian and granted him liberty to approach it in case of any problem.

The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, had directed the college and the university to re-admit Hadiya and grant her hostel facilities.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Subbbulakshmi, who held a meeting with college authorities in Salem, told reporters that adequate protection will be given to Hadiya.

Relieved father

Hadiya's father welcomed the apex court decision allowing her to continue her studies and said he did not want a terrorist in the family

Ashokan said, "Hadiya does not have any idea about Syria, where she wanted to go after converting to Islam. I cannot have a terrorist in the family."

Ashokan said he was sad that his daughter had to suffer a lot because of which her studies were interrupted.

"But now I am happy as the court has allowed her to study," Ashokan told reporters in Delhi.

He denied allegations that she had been kept under house arrest and added, "She was fully surrounded by the police, inside and outside the house."

Ashokan said he was not worried about her security in Salem as she was now under the protection and observation of the apex court.

"I accept the Supreme Court's decision. She is under the protection of the Supreme Court as it is monitoring the case and so I am not worried about her security," he said.

Ashokan also said he would go to Salem and meet her as and when necessary as the court had allowed him to do so.

'Want to meet husband'

Hadiya was whisked away to the managing director's office soon after her arrival at the college campus.

Emerging from the office about half-an-hour later, Hadiya said she has sought permission to meet her husband. "I think they will allow," she told reporters.

Replying to a question, she said security was not necessary for her. But at least for two days, security will be there, she added.

Later, she was taken in a police vehicle to the college hostel.