NAMAKKAL: Tension and anxiety prevailed for several hours on the premises of the combined court complex here on Wednesday as a caste-Hindu girl and a Dalit youth, who had eloped recently, were brought to the court in connection with the dispute over their marriage.
Amid tight security, the 19-year-old girl, Rohini (name changed), a II year B Sc Chemistry student of a self-financing college here, and the youth, S Anbarasu (20), were produced before the Judicial Magistrate, Namakkal-II, Rajeshkannan, in the forenoon, sources told.
The girl’s father Krishnamurthy filed a petition seeking to nullify the couple’s marriage, who had registered their wedding at sub-registrar office in Kattuputhur on Oct 30, as the youth was a minor. However, the lawyers of Anbarasu, a college drop-out, contended that the age of youth was immaterial as the law insists only on the age of the girl in connection with marriage disputes.
After hearing the arguments of the both the sides, the Magistrate recorded the statement of the girl, who stated that she wanted to go with Anbarasu. Later, the Magistrate passed orders saying “since being a major, the girl can go anywhere as per her wish.” He dismissed the petition of the girl’s father and directed the police to probe the veracity of the certificate produced by Anbarasu.
Sources recalled that both Rohini and Anbarasu had tied the knot at the Murugan Temple in Balasamudram in Tiruchy district on Sept 17. Later, they eloped on Oct 25 and got the wedding duly registered at the Sub-registrar office in Kattuputhur on October 30. The youth had produced a certificate from a Notary Public attesting to show he was 23 years old.
Meanwhile, the girl’s father Krishnamurthy lodged a complaint with the Senthamangalam police, following which a case of abduction under sect 366 of IPC was registered.
The couple appeared before the Senthamangalam police on Tuesday (Nov 3) along with an advocate. They were taken to the Nallipalayam police station for inquiry.