BERTIN CHENGALAI Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition is filed seeking the following prayers :-

(2.) Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader.

(3.) The petitioner contends that he is working as a Software Engineer in Houston, Texas, USA. He had given Ext.P1 application online for solemnization of marriage with one Smt.Greeshma George. The notice of intended marriage was published by Ext.P2 on 16.12.2019. The marriage therefore has to be conducted after the statutory notice period of 30 days expires and within a period of three months thereafter. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner's leave was cancelled and he had to return to USA on 22.11.2019 and that he is not in a position to come back to India for completing the procedures. He, therefore, seeks solemnization of the marriage by video conferencing. An application in this behalf submitted by the petitioner is marked as Ext.P4. However, the application was rejected by Ext.P5. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that since statutory notice had already been submitted by the petitioner and since there were no objections to the marriage of the petitioner to Greeshma George, there is absolutely nothing standing in the way of the marriage being solemnized through video conferencing.