Minor marrying lover: HC asks NCPCR to take care of her

“We direct that the NCPCR would ensure that proper steps are taken in this regard and it (panel) would ensure her safe custody,education,counselling and conciliation,” the court said and made it clear that the youth,to whom she married,would not be arrested till October 11,next date of hearing.

It also said the parents of the youth will also be not arrested in the case.

The bench,meanwhile,ordered that the girl be sent to ‘Nirmal Chaya’,a government-run home for the women and asked the CWC,an NGO and the Mediation and Conciliation Centre at the high court to try to resolve the “strange” case.

“The family of the child and respondent (youth) deserved to be counselled,” it said and asked the families of the girl and youth to cooperate in the mediation and conciliation process.

During the day,the bench conducted the hearing in its chamber to know the responses of both parties including those of the girl,her parents and the youth and his family.

The court was hearing two petitions filed by the father of the minor girl and the youth respectively.

The father wanted the custody of the daughter while the youth sought a direction to the police to protect him and his minor wife.

Two FIRs were registered by the father of the girl at Lodhi Road and Ambedkar Nagar police stations here after she eloped with the 21-year-old youth twice since February 5 this year.

The youth,who was arrested and then released on bail after registration of the first FIR,eloped again and married the girl before moving the court to seek protection alleging that he faced threats from the girl’s parents.

On the other hand,the girl’s father,who had lodged cases against the youth and his parents,moved the court for the custody of his daughter on the ground that she was a minor.

The high court,which gave police the liberty to continue with its probe,however,restrained them from arresting the youth and his parents till October 11,the next date of hearing.