Marriages made in heaven, confirmed in HC!

BANGALORE: High Courts are vested with a lot of powers indeed - to punish the guilty and save the innocent from punishment.Of late, the High court is also turning out to be the saviour of love marriages of eloped couples, though not solemnising them like the police stations generally do.It is not uncommon to see at least a couple of Habeas Corpus petitions before the division bench of Justice N Ananda and Justice Suri Appa Rao every day.And most of these petitions are about young missing girls, and neighbourhood boys are usually accused of abducting them.And, most of these “abductions” turn out to be elopements.The boy and girl turn up in the court as couple and the court, in most instances, has to convince parents that their kids are indeed old enough to decide for themselves.In recent weeks, however, there have been several instances where the court has gone beyond the usual deliberation and made sure that the eloped couples are serious about their lives.In some incidents, the court asked the boys to deposit amounts ranging from `2 lakh to `5 lakh in the name of the girls to prove their bona fides.It has also sent a few girls to retention centre for days till it is convinced that they do not want to go back to their parents.Last week, in a strange case, a pregnant girl told the court that she wanted both her parents and her husband.The court sent her to her parents’ home for extra care and directed the police to give protection to her husband from his in-laws.A couple, who claimed to have eloped and got married at a temple but failed to produce any proof, were asked to file a joint affidavit that they are married.The court also told the groom to deposit `2 lakh in the bride’s account and take her home.This year, about 141 Habeas Corpus pleas of this nature have came for hearing in the High Court till date.Government advocate Chandramouli, who attends most of these cases, said, “This is not a legal problem.Its a social problem, and we do all things in the welfare of the girls.It’s very necessary for the girls’ future.We won’t harass the girls.Many girls run out from their houses and get married to drivers and coolies, and they will be studying and will be below 21.In such cases, the court directs the boys to deposit some amount in girls’ accounts so that the money will help the girls in future.If the court finds any boy has married a girl for an ulterior motive, immediately it sends him to jail, and the girl to retention centre.This has happened in many cases.Every year, we receive 250- 300 Habeas Corpus petitions.” Senior advocate Shankarappa said, “Due to lack of guidance and proper parental care, youngsters take such steps.The court directs boys to deposit money in the name of the girl to prove his bonafides.If boys leave the girls, the money will be of some security to the girls.”