Raj HC puts breaks on quick Arya Samaj marriages
Quick Arya Samaj marriages which come in handy for lovers in a hurry will have to undergo changes following a Rajasthan high court directive.
A division bench of the court has placed a ban on any such love marriage unless parents of both the bride and bridegroom are informed through police about the intention of their children to enter into wedlock.
A bench comprising justices Dalip Singh and Sajjan Singh Kothari also ruled that no love marriage through Arya Samaj will be allowed to be solemnised unless it has been approved and recommended by two distinguished person of both the sides.
It has been made compulsory that both the boy and girl produce three prominent persons as witness of the marriage from either side at Arya Samaj if their parents object to the marriage.
The court directed that in case Arya Samaj authorities decide to go ahead with the ceremony despite objections of the parents, they will have to separately record the reasons for entering into such a mariage.
Expressing displeasure over the manner in which such marriages are being conducted by the Arya Samaj in Rajasthan, the court said, "The pious purpose of the Arya Samaj mission has been lost sight at by local units in the state and they are becoming tool for passification of 'greed and lust' for girl and boy and once it is over the marriage lands in courts resulting in irreversible breakdowns".
In its order, the court directed that at least six days time must be given to the parents of both side to take a conscious decision on such a love marriage.
"It takes them one hour to solemnise a marriage between a 18-year-old girl and a 38 or 40-year-old man which leaves scars forever in the life of parents who bring up their children with great passion and aspirations.Such marriages in lust and greed by young blood cannot be said to be correct.
"We cannot allow society to suffer due to outcome of such a bad marriage. Such marriages are giving a bad message to society and need to be checked immediately," observed Justice Kothari.
The bench passed this order on a Habeas Corpus petition filed by 34-year-old Buddha Ram Meena who entered into such a marriage with 18-year-old Maina Bhatt. When the parents of girl came to know about the marriage, they took her away forcing Buddha to file a Habeas Corpus petition.