"Can't Rule Out Possibility Of Forced Marriage": P&H High Court Directs Inquiry Into Marriage Of 19 Yr Old Girl With 67 Yr Old Man

Calling it a shocking case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday directed a team of police officials to enquire into the marriage of a 19-year-old Girl with a 67-year-old man.

The Bench of Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri was hearing the protection plea of the couple [petitioner No.1 being a girl of 19 years of age and petitioner No.2 being a man of the age of 67 years] who claimed that they are married.

During the course of the hearing, the Court noted that it was not clear from the pleadings or from the arguments raised by the counsel for the petitioners as to whether petitioner No.2 (Man) had solemnized his first marriage (with the Petitioner/Girl) or multiple marriages.

The Court also noted that it was not clear under what circumstances a girl of 19 years of age had got married to an old man of 67 years of age.

"Prima facie this Court is of the view that there is some suspicion with regard to the aforesaid marriage and the possibility of forced marriage can also be not ruled out at this stage," the Court further remarked.

Thus, the Court directed the Superintendent of Police, Palwal to depute a team of police officials including lady police officials to reach out to petitioner No.1 (Girl) and ensure her protection forthwith thereafter.

The team to be constituted by the Superintendent of Police, Palwal has also been directed to enquire into the entire matter not only with the present marriage but also with regard to the background of petitioner No.2 and produce petitioner No.1 before the Ilaqa Magistrate for recording her statement.

The Ilaqa Magistrate has been directed to record the statement of Girl after ascertaining her voluntariness.

"Let the entire exercise be carried out within a period of one week from today. So far as the protection to be granted to petitioner No.1 is concerned, the same shall be done forthwith," concluded the Court.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on August 10.

Case title - Sanjida and anr. v. State of Haryana and others

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