18-year-old goes to court to annul child marriage
At six, when Pintu Devi should have been playing with friends and thinking of school, she was married off to a youth from Saran Nagar in Jodhpur.
She suffered in silence for 12 years, but finally, Pintu Devi gathered the courage and knocked the doors of Family court-1 of Jodhpur for dissolving her child marriage. Terrified of constant threats from her in-laws, she got the support of Dr Kriti Bharti, rehabilitation psychologist and managing trustee of Saarthi Trust, and filed a plea in the family court to annul her marriage. Justice PK Jain admitted the petition and issued notices to her husband.
Devi, now 18, is the daughter of a daily wage labourer, Sohanlal Bishnoi of Pithawas village of Jodhpur. Her in-laws were allegedly involved in criminal activities, and her family lived in fear every day. Later, they threaten Devi and her family of a social boycott if the child marriage was terminated.
A few days ago, Devi and her family came to know about Bharti and contacted her. With her help, Devi filed a petition to annul her child marriage.
She presented documents relating to Devi’s age and other related documents.
“I was married at a tender age. My in-laws are involved in criminal activities. There are other reasons also for which I do not want to go to my in-law’s place. Now, with the support of Kriti didi, I have filed a petition to annul the child marriage. I am hopeful to be released from the bond of child marriage soon,” Devi said.
“Devi’s in-laws were pressurising her. First, we have filed a case for annulment of child marriage and after that action will be taken against them for their activities. Besides, efforts are being made for better rehabilitation of Devi,” Bharati said.
JAIPUR: