Delhi High court comes with an integral observation on marriage as a freedom of choice | VIDEO

Hey, you are already 24, get married to this govt employee and just settle down in a good place.Why are you not getting married? Don’t fall in love marriage! If arranged marriage, ensure wholesome dowry even if it’s illegal, offering or receiving it as a token of love. It is sure that many of us will be fed up with such comments once you complete your studies or the age scale of marriage set by society. Here is a ray of hope from Delhi court through its decisive observation on marriage.

Observing that freedom of choice in marriage is an intrinsic part of the Constitution, mainly Article 21 and questions of faith have no bearing on the freedom to choose a life partner, the Delhi High Court has said the police is expected to act expeditiously and with sensitivity for protection of couples apprehending hostility from others including family members. The court's observation came while dealing with bail pleas arising from a case involving an alleged attempt to murder and physical assault on the complainant man by the family of the woman, who married him against the wishes of her family.

The court said it was “unfortunate” that necessary steps for ensuring the safety and security of the couple were not initiated by the police station concerned on their complaint when they were expected to act with promptitude and any such lapse cannot be accepted and thus called for action against those responsible. The complainant, the woman’s husband, alleged on December 22 when the couple returned to Delhi after getting married, his wife’s family became furious and threatened to kill him. The same evening the couple approached Rajouri Garden police station and sought protection. While returning from the police station they were allegedly abducted by his wife’s family and were taken to their house, where the man was brutally beaten and his private parts were amputated with an axe. The prosecution said after the complainant was attacked, he was thrown in a drain from and was rescued by his brother, and admitted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre.