SC asks Bihar, Delhi senior cops to ensure safety of minor seeking annulment of marriage

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Bihar director general of police and the Delhi police commissioner to provide adequate safety to a minor girl seeking annulment of her marriage.

A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan said the girl and her friend feared threat to their lives and directed the authorities to get in touch with them and provide necessary assistance to them.

The girl, who claimed to be on the run with her friend, claimed being forcefully married off on December 9, 2024, at 16-and-a-half years of age, and now her husband and in-laws were coercing her to remain in the union, complaining about the money they spent on the wedding.

The bench agreed to hear the plea and sought the response of the Bihar administration and her husband and in-laws by July 15.

"She was not allowed to return to her parental home by her in-laws who claimed to have given and spent a lot of money for the marriage and repeatedly told her that they wanted a baby. Her husband who is a civil contractor claimed that the petitioner's parents were indebted to them and she would have to continue in the marriage rather than go for further studies to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher or a lawyer," her plea said.

She claimed that she wanted to study further but she was kept under confinement by her father-in-law despite the promise of allowing her to return to her parents.

"The present writ petition...has been filed through next friend by sixteen-and-a-half year-old minor petitioner who is facing threat to her life for protesting against continuing in a child marriage solemnised under coercion against her wish to continue her education," the plea said.

The minor claimed she was on the run with a friend and feared for their lives if they returned to Bihar.

"The petitioner is a hapless victim of child marriage who stands forlorn with no help from family and society in her fight to walk out of the abusive child marriage and hence pleads for invocation of the parens patriae jurisdiction of this court in the best interest of the petitioner," the plea added.

The minor said her parents got her married six months ago under coercion with a person aged around 32 or 33 and she was given a send-off immediately after the marriage ceremony despite the fact that her Class X board exams were round the corner.

She was reportedly assured that she would return to her parents two days later.

"However, she was not allowed to return to her parental home by her in-laws who claimed to have given and spent a lot of money for the marriage and repeatedly told her that they wanted a baby. Her husband who is a civil contractor claimed that the petitioner’s parents were indebted to them and she would have to continue in the marriage rather than go for further studies to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher or a lawyer," the plea said.

The girl, therefore, sought directions for nullifying her marriage and prosecution of her in-laws and husband under the Prohibition of Child Marriages Act, 2006.

She also sought a direction to the authorities to ensure her and her friend’s safety.