KOLLAM: The journey against the odds came to a happy conclusion after the High Court on Saturday ruled against college which refused to let them continue their course citing the institution’s reputation. The ruling came exactly two years after the court let down a live-in couple from another college in Chadayamangalam by approving the management’s decision to dismiss the girl.
The young couple met at the CHMM College when she joined there for BBA in 2016. Vyshak was a year senior to her and they became friends following a ragging incident.“When a group of seniors started ragging me, Vyshak came to my rescue. And we became friends,” said Malavika.
She had initially turned down his proposal and even told her mother about it. She did not have much friends as the family was based in Saudi Arabia till she completed Plus-Two. But his love finally won her heart and it bloomed when she entered the second semester. The couple now aged 20 and 21, vouched the stubborn attitude of the college authorities prompted them to marry early.
“Our plan was to get married after completing post-graduation. But the head of the department pressurised my parents to marry me off to someone else,” said Malavika. The couple registered their marriage at Veliyam, two months after eloping.
They managed to establish their right before a court at Paravur when the families filed police cases. But the college authorities refused to let them in, forcing them to pursue a legal battle for their rights. Both of them joined for a computer accounting course at Attingal to make up for their lost year. Vyshak took up odd jobs at a bike showroom and private bank.
Meanwhile, the families patched up and the couple now share their time with both the families. Armed with the court order, Malavika is set to join third semester at the same college and Vyshak his fifth semester at a different institution.
Judge declines to accept earlier order
While recognising the freedom to have a choice, Justice A Muhammed Mustaque declined to accept the earlier order of HC passed in 2016. The court had upheld the decision of a college expelling a girl student for eloping with her classmate and for living together.
Justice Mustaque said he was not able to follow the judgment for the simple reason that the judgment had rendered without adverting to the fundamental right of right to privacy. In view of the declaration of the right to privacy on a fundamental right in Puttaswamy’s case, that judgment lost its significance as binding precedent.