JUDICIAL SHELTER RUNAWAY COUPLES NEED COMPASSION

In most Indian families, a girl and a boy are supposed to marry according to the convenience and approval of their parents, relatives, neighbours and, at times, even of those who are total strangers to them. In short, everyone's opinion matters, except that of the would-be brides and grooms. Most take this tyranny lying down. A rare few rebel. They have to face the wrath of society and pay a heavy price, as if they have committed a crime. The family members can commit what have come to be known as "honour killings". If somehow the relatives relent, there are community kangaroo courts called khap panchayats, which can either tell them to annul their marriage and live as brothers and sisters or socially ostracise them or kill them, as it happened in the case of Manoj and Babli of Karoran village in Haryana. Such runaway couples have no option except to appeal to the High Court for protection. The travesty is that many of them have been abducted or beaten up right while going to or returning from the state capital where the high courts are located.

 

Moved by their sorry plight, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has now empowered district and sessions judges of all districts of Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh to provide security to such runaway couples. This will not only save them from undertaking the long, hazardous journey, but would also reduce the burden on the High Court.

 

However, the major concern remains: what about providing them security while going to district courts? Those bent on harming them can attack them there as well. Such couples can breathe easy only if the government, society and NGOs join hands and come to their rescue whole-heartedly. While it is necessary to persuade those with medieval mindset to treat those wanting to marry by listening to their own hearts with compassion, it is also necessary to tell them in no uncertain terms that law would brook no violence.