Earmarked safe houses for interfaith, inter-caste couples across state: Govt to HC

A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Prithviraj Chavan was hearing a plea by a man and woman from different religions, both aged 23, who have given a notice for registration of marriage to the Sub-Registrar’s Office.

The plea, argued through senior advocate Mihir Desai and advocate Lara Jesani, sought safe accommodation for the couple in the city till the danger persists from their families, who are against their marriage.

The government lawyer assured that the authorities will immediately make available a designated safe house to the petitioner couple.

The court also directed the police station concerned to provide an additional guard at the said safe house to prevent any untoward incident.

It also asked the police authorities to consider within 48 hours an application made by the petitioner man seeking police protection as he would start his job next week.

On December 10, the bench had suggested that some rooms in state guest houses in all districts can be designated as safe houses for couples facing security threats due to inter-caste or inter-faith marriages.

It had said police are already deployed at such guest houses, so the administration would not require additional force to give protection to such couples and had  queried the state Social Justice and Home departments if they have identified safe houses in the state as per the Supreme Court’s 2018 guidelines.

Additional Public Prosecutor Prajakta P Shinde for the state informed the bench that the Home Department has issued a circular on Wednesday and have created special cells and safe houses for interfaith and inter-caste couples, both married and  in a relationship or intending to marry each other.

After the petitioners sought that they may be permitted one of the safe houses mentioned in the circular, the state lawyer assured that the same would be made available to them on Thursday evening, which the court accepted.

The HC will hear the matter next on January 6.