Jaipur: 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 marriage.
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 gentleman 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 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.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, October 23, 2011, 13:49