Kochi: “All love marriages should not be termed as ‘love-jihad’,” observed the Kerala High Court on Thursday while hearing a petition with regard to an inter-religious marriage of Kannur-native Sruthi and Anees Hammed.
“Such kind of marriages should be encouraged. There’s no boundary for love,” the court added.
The court allowed Sruthi Meledath to go with her husband Anees Hameed, while ruling the marriage as ‘valid’.
Sruthi's marriage was not 'Love Jihad' observed Kerala High Court allowing her to go with her husband Anees Hameed
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2017
Sruthi and Anees Hameed were classmates and were in an affair for a couple of years. The couple informed their parents about the relationship but Sruthi’s parents warned her against pursuing it. Sruthi converted to Islam and married her classmate Anees.
Sruthi’s parents then moved a habeas corpus petition alleging that their daughter was abducted by Anees, who forcefully converted her to Islam and married her under religious customs.
Sruthi agreed to go with her parents after they first went to court. When Anees filed a habeas corpus petition that his wife Sruthi be released from the custody of her family, she changed her mind.
Sruthi, now lives with Anees in their home in Kannur alleged before the court that during her deposition, her parents had taken her to a Yoga centre near Kochi where she was forcibly confined and tortured by the counselors and staff members of the Yoga centre.
On October 10 while hearing Hadiya’s case, the High Court gave the same verdict that ‘all inter-religious marriages cannot be termed love jihad’.
Earlier on October 7, the Kerala Government told the Supreme Court that an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was not needed in the case as the state police was efficient enough to carry out the inquiry.
In an affidavit, the state government informed the apex court that the state police is competent enough to investigate such crimes.
With ANI inputs