“Let security be provided to her, without her wish and will, nobody will be allowed to meet her”, says the bench comprising Justice Sonia Gokani and Justice Mauna Bhatt while granting protection to a young couple hoping to marry each other.
The court was hearing the writ of habeas corpus filed by the petitioner, Hitesh Prajapati, seeking the release of Jayaben Shrimali from the care of the District Legal Service Authority (DLSA), Banaskantha.
Earlier the court had granted protection to Jayaben who was interested in marrying Hiteshkumar Prajapati, but he was below the age of 21 years. She was accordingly granted accommodation at a Women Protection Home until Hiteshkumar turns 21 years of age. On 07.02.2022, he turned 21. In this period, she was granted security and basic amenities by the DLSA Full Time Secretary and the Administrator.
The bench in an order on February 14 observed, “Noticing the fact that today both the petitioner and corpus have become eligible to marry each other which they intend to do and as the corpus, who has completed 21 years 5 months back, is keen to join the petitioner, they will be on their own to decide about the marriage part of it which they can do it today also.”
The Bench observed Jayaben’s will to marry Hitesh. Noting that both persons had now become eligible to marry and were keen to join each other, the Court permitted them to marry today.
The bench also directed the parents of Jayaben to cooperate with the corpus and assist her in obtaining documents once the couple is married.
