Allahabad HC Restrains Arya Samaj Temple From Conducting A Marriage Of A Minor, Seeks Compliance With Existing Laws

Prayagraj, April 22 (TNA) In an important decision, the Allahabad High Court has restrained the Arya Samaj Mandir Krishna Nagar Prayagraj from conducting the marriage of the eloped couple without the family's no-objection. The court said that the use of the holy religious place has been made a place to earn money from illegal activities.

Illegal marriage is being done to the minor couple by giving the allurement of security. The court has ordered the president of the Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Hanuman Road, New Delhi, to ban child marriage by following the guidelines of the Supreme Court and the suggestions of this court. Along with this, the Speaker has been directed to prepare guidelines within eight weeks and present the report in the court.

This order has been given by Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamsheri after hearing the bail application of Pappu, a resident of Police Station Kokhraj, Kaushambi. The court said that the priest of Arya Samaj Mandir Krishna Nagar got a 15-year-old minor girl married by treating her as an adult. Time has come that Arya Samaj should not cheat, the HC observed.

Get the documents of the couple coming for marriage eloped from home verified. By not doing this, the Arya Samaj temple has become a place for illegal marriage of a couple who ran away from home. Due to this the respect of the institution is falling. The holy religious place is indulging in illegal activities to earn money. The court said, how did the Arya Samaj temple know that both were adults and got them married when the victim was below 16 years of age.

On August 24, 2022, the girl's mother lodged an FIR against unknown at Kokhraj police station on charges of kidnapping. It is said that on August 21, the girl who went to defecate from home did not return. The police caught the girl on 15 November 22. She alleged abducting and having sex but changed her statement before the magistrate. It is said that after running away from home, getting married in the Arya Samaj temple, they are living together.

The victim was 15 years and eight months old at the time of the incident. In the medical examination, it was said to be 17 to 18 years. Minor as per age certificate. The bail application of the petitioner was rejected by the subordinate court. That's why the bail application was given in the High Court.