This couple will wed today, thanks to a prod from Governor

Meena, who has polio in both legs, can8217;t walk without support. Yet, the 32-year-old had gone to the marriage office thrice, carrying garlands, and mentally prepared to leave her parental home.

The couple was told the first time that someone had objected to their marriage. On subsequent visits, the officer, allegedly under pressure from right wing organisations who had created a ruckus in the Collectorate, was not present.

It took the couple a visit to the Raj Bhavan on Monday to clear the official and other hurdles in their way. Governor Balram Jakhar spoke to the Chief Secretary after the couple described thier plight to him.

Additional Collector Deepak Singh, who officiates as marriage officer, told The Indian Express on Wednesday that all formalities were over and he would register the marriage after recording statements of both. He said a joint collector had inquired into objections received from two individuals and found both baseless. It was Singh who had entertained the objections even after the mandatory 40-day period was over. The Special Marriages Act requires the officer to invite objections, if any, once he gets an application for registration of a marriage.

Congress leader Suraj Jaiswal alleged the administration had acted under pressure from Hindu organisations, as not a single written objection was received. The oral objection, itself, referred to proposed conversion and not marriage itself.

Singh admitted he entertained two written objections after the mandatory period was over, but justified it saying he had not passed any final order in the matter. 8220;Since the order was pending I entertained them, but inquiry proved there was no substance in them,8221; he said. He denied the allegation that he acted under pressure from saffron activists. 8220;Once the court could not sit and on another occasion I was on leave,8217;8217; he said. Jaiswal stated that once the Raj Bhavan intervened the district administration was ready to solemnise the marriage immediately. An SDM was sent to the couples8217; homes to request them to register the marriage, Jaiswal claimed. 8220;How could a daily wager offer money to anyone,8221; he said refuting the allegations leveled by the Sena.

Peter8217;s sister stays near Meena8217;s house. They developed a liking for each other and decided to marry each other without getting converted to either religion. Peter alleged that he had received threats, but the police never took note of his complaints.