AJIT RANJAN Vs. STATE OF DELHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is one of the numerous writs of habeas corpus which are filed in this Court by a husband seeking custody of his wife who had married him and was not thereafter permitted to return to the company of the husband by the relatives of the wife. The changing social scenario in this country is leading to a situation where there are more inter caste and inter-religion marriages as in the present case which meet with the societal and familial resistance.

(2.) Any change in the social and family structure would naturally meet with resistance. Increasing awareness, exposure, mobility and education is bringing about more interaction between diverse sections of the populace leading to better understanding and tolerance of other castes and religions. Such interaction leads to friendship, familiarity, love and in some cases matrimony. Love marriages are frequently performed in the absence of and without the blessings of the parents, by the lovelorn couple quietly, in the presence of friends and well wishers.

(3.) Circumstances compel the couple and in particular the wife not to immediately reveal her nascent matrimonial status to her parents and such revelation, accidental or otherwise, of the not so public marriage brings about an outburst of indignation and anger leading to social and physical restraints on the wife/daughter, leading to ostracisation of the husband and denial of access to the married couples.