HC slams police for inaction in child marriage

THE COURT DIRECTED DISTRICT LEVEL SERVICE AUTHORITY TO FILE A WRIT ON THE GIRL’S BEHALF TO ANNUL THE CHILD MARRIAGE

The Rajasthan high court on Friday slammed police for its inaction as a minor girl of Barmer became a victim of child marriage.

The court directed District Level Service Authority (DLSA) to file a writ on the girl’s behalf to annul the child marriage.

The court also ordered an interim compensation of ₹121,000 to the girl.

The HC took suo motto cognisance on a letter written by the girl’s father to it on April 19.

Earlier, the court had sumtices moned 24 members of a khap panchayat who, the girl’s father alleged, forced him to marry his minor daughter to a 37-year-old man and also made him pay ₹5 lakh.

The khap members appeared before the division bench of jus- Gopal Krishna Vyas and GR Moolchandani on April 27 and gave an affidavit that they had not ostracised the girl’s family and will not do that in future. They also denied the allegation that they made the girl’s father cough up ₹5 lakh.

After the khap members’ affidavit, the court said the grievance of the complainant to remain in community had been redressed.

Additional advocate general SK Vyas, who appeared on behalf of the state, informed the court that proper investigation was carried out in the first information report lodged by complainant and in the investigation, the allegations levelled by the complainant were not found to be true, after the case was closed on April 29.

The girl’s father has filed a protest petition against the police for closing a case.

The high court directed the additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM) of Barmer, who is hearing the protest petition, to dispose of it in accordance with law within two months.

The court directed the Sheo police to provide security to the complainant and his family, including the minor daughter, when needed.