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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI W.P.(Crl.) 591/2008 and Crl. M.A. 5507/2008 Decided On: 08.07.2008 Appellants: Mohd. Nihal Vs. esp!ndent: State
Hon'ble J d!es"Co#a$% "i#ra$a%it &en and ".'. &(ali) **. Co nsels% +!r Appellant/Petiti!ner/plainti,,: '. &-nil) Ad. &an%ee. /(andari) Additi!nal &tandin0 C!-nsel) A&1 2at(- a$ and 2a%$i Wa3iri) Ad.s./A$ic-s C-ria S b&e't% Fa$il( S b&e't% C#i$inal )'ts"R les"O#de#s% Pr!(i4iti!n !, C(ild Marria0e Act) 2005 6 C(ild Marria0e ( estraint) Act) 1929 61ndian Ma%!rit7 Act) 1875 68ind- Marria0e Act) 1955 6M-sli$ Pers!nal 9a: (&(ariat) Applicati!n Act) 19;7 < &ecti!n 26 1ndian Ma%!rit7 Act) 1875 < &ecti!n 2) 1ndian Ma%!rit7 Act) 1875 < &ecti!n ;) 1ndian Ma%!rit7 Act) 1875 < &ecti!n 126 =-ardians and Wards Act) 1890 < &ecti!n 56 1ndian C!ntract Act) 1872 < &ecti!n 10) 1ndian C!ntract Act) 1872 < &ecti!n 116 1ndian Penal C!de (1PC) < &ecti!n ;5;6 M-sli$ 9a: 6M-sli$ Pers!nal 9a: 68ind- 9a: Cases Re*e##ed% M!(a$$ad >-n-s .. &7ed-nnisa A1 1951 &C 8086 Ar-lananda .. P!nn-s:a$i A1 1922 Madras 16 /(a0:ati .. District *-d0e A1 19;; Alla(a4ad ?806 A4d-l A3ee3 .. Pat(-$$a /i A1 1952 Mad. 75?6 A($ed &-le$an .. /ai +at$a) (19;0) ;2 /OM9 1;72 : 55 /!$ 1506 2a#setan /i4i .. 8a4i4a4 a($an A1 19?8 Cal 556 '(ati%a /e0-$ .. =-la$ Dasta0ir A1 1975 AP 1286 A4d-l A(ad .. Mst. &(a( /e0-$ A1 1997 *@' 226 A7-4 '(an .. Mst. A#(tari A1 195; All 5256 &(a$a /e0 .. '(a:a%a M!(i-ddin A($ed 19 (1972) 2 Del.7;6 a.i '-$ar .. &tate6 W!$en .. =!.ern$ent !, 2CA !, Del(i6 &-nil '-$ar .. &tate 2CA !, Del(i 2007(2) 9 C 55 (Del)6 Mst. &(a4na$ .. M!(d. &(a,iB A1 200? a%ast(an ;0;6 M-sta,a .. &$t. '(-rsida A1 2005 a%ast(an ;16 Mani# Din#ar *a0tap .. &tate !, Ma(aras(tra6 Ma#e$$al &ail!! .. &-perintendent !, P!lice 11 (2005) DMC ?6 Md. 1dris .. &tate !, /i(ar 1980 Crl. 9.*. 75?6 Dis+osition% Petiti!n dis$issed Citin! Re*e#en'e%

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Disc-ssed 10 Menti!ned 7 JUDGMENT

Vi,#a$a&it Sen- J. 1. A M-sli$ (-s4and) M!(d. 2i(al) see#s t(e c-st!d7 !, (is M-sli$ :i,e) Mst. A,sana) 47 $eans !, t(is (a4eas c!rp-s petiti!n. 2i(al (t(e Petiti!ner) asserts t(at (e is 22 7ears !, a0e and :as $arried t! Mst. A,sana !n ;1.;.2008 in c!ns!nance :it( M-sli$ rites and cere$!nies at Madarasa Alia) Mas%id +ate(p-ri) Del(i. A(e a0e !, Mst. A,sana is t(e ca-se !, c!ntr!.ers7) 4!t( ,act-al and ,!rensic. One !, t(e :itnesses t! t(is $arria0e is t(e (-s4and !, t(e sister !, Mst. A,sana :(!) acc!rdin0 t! 2i(al) (ad acted as (er 0-ardian (Wali). An +.1. . -nder &ecti!n ;5; 1PC (as 4een re0istered !n ;1.;.2008 at t(e instance !, Mst. A#(atari /e0-$ ($!t(er !, Mst. A,sana) :(! (as appeared in t(ese pr!ceedin0s and (as !pp!sed t(e (andin0 !.er !, (er da-0(ter t! t(e Petiti!ner. A(ese are t(e ad.ersaries 4e,!re -s. &ince c!$pleC B-esti!ns !, M-sli$ 9a: (a.e arisen) and Mst. A#(atari /e0-$ is n!t ,inanciall7 s!-nd t! en0a0e an Ad.!cate) :e (ad reB-ested Mr. 2a%$i Wa3iri) Ad.!cate t! act as a$ic-s c-riae. 2. A(e Pr!(i4iti!n !, C(ild Marria0e Act) 2005 (2!. 5 !, 2007) D,!r s(!rt EPCME Act (ereina,terF (a.in0 4een p-4lis(ed in t(e =a3ette !, 1ndia GCtra!rdinar7 !n *an-ar7 11) 2007 and :as 2!ti,ied in t(e =a3ette t! c!$e int! ,!rce !n 2!.e$4er 1st) 2007. 1t (as repealed t(e C(ild Marria0e ( estraint) Act) 1929. &ecti!n 2 t(ere!, di,,erentiates 4et:een a Hc(ildH and a H$in!rH. A(e :!rd Hc(ildH is stated t! $ean a pers!n) :(!) i, a $ale) (as n!t c!$pleted 21 7ears !, a0e) and i, a ,e$ale) (as n!t c!$pleted 18 7ears !, a0e6 :(ereas t(e :!rd H$in!rH $eans a pers!n :(! -nder t(e pr!.isi!ns !, t(e 1ndian Ma%!rit7 Act) 1875 (,!r s(!rt Ma%!rit7 Act) is dee$ed t! (a.e attained (is $a%!rit7. A(e pr!.isi!n !, t(e PCM Act de,ines a c(ild $arria0e as !ne t! :(ic( eit(er !, t(e c!ntractin0 part7 is a c(ild. 1n !t(er :!rds t(e p-rp!se !, t(is Act is t! disa4le a $a%!r $ale ,r!$ enterin0 int! $atri$!n7 4e,!re reac(in0 t(e a0e !, 21 7ears and a ,e$ale 4e,!re attainin0 t(e a0e !, ei0(teen. PCM Act s! ,ar as its applica4ilit7 is c!ncerned $a#es n! distincti!n 4et:een race !r reli0i!n. &ecti!n ; t(ere!, declares e.er7 c(ild $arria0e t! 4e .!ida4le at t(e !pti!n !, t(e c!ntractin0 part7 :(! :as a c(ild at t(e ti$e !, $arria0e. A(is r!-0(l7 c!rresp!nds t! t(e p!siti!n t(at !4tains -nder t(e 8ind- Marria0e Act) 1955 (E8M ActE ,!r s(!rt). &ecti!n 12 declares a c(ild $arria0e t! 4e n-ll and .!id in circ-$stances :(ere s!$e entice$ent !r ,!rce) deceit !r ind-ce$ent $a7 (a.e !cc-rred !r :(ere a c(ild (a.in0 4een s!ld in $arria0e (as 4een $ade t! 0! t(r!-0( a ,!r$ !, $arria0e a,ter :(ic( t(e $in!r is s!ld !r tra,,ic#ed !r -sed t! i$$!ral p-rp!se. P-nis($ent is prescri4ed 47 t(is enact$ent ,!r an ad-lt $ale c!ntractin0 a c(ild $arria0e) and ,!r per,!r$in0) pr!$!tin0 !r per$ittin0 a c(ild $arria0e. A(e si0ni,icance !, t(e PCM Act s! ,ar as t(e present case is c!ncerned is t(at it applies t(r!-0(!-t 1ndia) eCcept in t(e &tate !, *a$$- @ 'as($ir) and t! all 1ndian citi3ens) :it(!-t and 4e7!nd 1ndia) re0ardless !, t(eir reli0i!-s a,,iliati!ns. A(-s) it applies t! M-sli$s als!. A(e B-esti!n t(at reB-ires an i$$ediate ans:er is :(et(er t(e PCM Act (as t(e e,,ect !, renderin0 .!id t(e $arria0e !, a M-sli$ 0irl :(! (as attained p-4ert7 4-t is 4el!: t(e a0e !, 18.

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;. 1n t(is re0ard) it s(!-ld 4e n!ted t(at &ecti!n 2 !, t(e M-sli$ Pers!nal 9a: (&(ariat) Applicati!n Act) 19;7 0i.es pre<e$inence t! M-sli$ Pers!nal 9a: (&(ariat)) n!t:it(standin0 an7 c-st!$s !r -sa0e t! t(e c!ntrar7. A(is &ecti!n reads as -nder: 2. Applicati!n !, Pers!nal 9a: t! M-sli$s.<2!t:it(standin0 an7 c-st!$s !r -sa0e t! t(e c!ntrar7) in all B-esti!ns (sa.e B-esti!ns relatin0 t! a0ric-lt-ral land) re0ardin0 intestate s-ccessi!n) special pr!pert7 !, ,e$ales) incl-din0 pers!nal pr!pert7 in(erited !r !4tained -nder c!ntract !r 0i,t !r an7 !t(er pr!.isi!n !, Pers!nal 9a:) $arria0e) diss!l-ti!n !, $arria0e) incl-din0 talaB) ila) 3i(ar) lian) #(-la and $-4araat) $aintenance) d!:er) 0-ardians(ip) 0i,ts) tr-sts and tr-st pr!perties) and :a#,s (!t(er t(an c(arities and c(arita4le instit-ti!ns and c(arita4le and reli0i!-s end!:$ents) t(e r-le !, decisi!n in cases :(ere t(e parties are M-sli$s s(all 4e t(e M-sli$ Pers!nal 9a: (&(ariat).

?. M!(a$$ad >-n-s .. &7ed-nnisa MA2I/&C/0;59/1951 : D1952F1&C 57 (as c!nstr-ed t(is pr!.isi!n as an in%-ncti!n directed a0ainst eac( and e.er7 C!-rt) t(ere47 en%!inin0 a *-d0e t! appl7 &(ariat la: in all cases c!ncernin0 M-sli$s n!t:it(standin0 an7 c-st!$ !r -sa0e t! t(e c!ntrar7. 1n c!ntradistincti!n t! c-st!$ and -sa0e) t(e :!rd Hla:H is c!nspic-!-s 47 its a4sence in t(is &ecti!n. A(ere,!re) &ecti!n 2 !, t(e Ma%!rit7 Act i$$ediatel7 ass-$es si0ni,icance as it declares t(at it s(all n!t a,,ect (a) t(e capacit7 !, an7 pers!n t! act in t(e $atters !, $arria0e) d!:er) di.!rce and ad!pti!n6 and (4) t(e reli0i!n !r reli0i!-s rites and -sa0es !, an7 class !, citi3ens. &ecti!n ; !, t(e Ma%!rit7 Act stip-lates t(at e.er7 pers!n s(all attain t(e a0e !, $a%!rit7 !n (is c!$pletin0 t(e a0e !, 18 7ears and n!t 4e,!re it. &ecti!n 5 !, t(e =-ardians and Wards Act) 1890 (,!r s(!rt =@W Act) als! preser.es t(is pre< e$inence !, pers!nal la:s inas$-c( as it directs t(at in t(e case !, a $in!r) n!t(in0 c!ntained in t(e Act s(all 4e c!nstr-ed t! ta#e a:a7 !r der!0ate ,r!$ an7 p!:er t! app!int a 0-ardian !, (is pers!n !r pr!pert7 !r 4!t() :(ic( is .alid 47 t(e la: t! :(ic( t(e $in!r is s-4%ect. Acc!rdin0l7) e.en i, s!$e d!-4t s(!-ld pre.ail pertainin0 t! t(e applica4ilit7 !, &(ariat la:s in 0-ardians(ip $atters) it stands clari,ied 47 .irt-e !, &ecti!n 5 !, t(e = @ W Act. W(en a C!-rt is called -p!n t! deter$ine t(e :el,are !, a $in!r s! ,ar as app!intin0 a 0-ardian !, (is pers!n !r pr!pert7 !r 4!t( is c!ncerned) t(is eCercise :ill (a.e t! 4e deter$ined in c!ns!nance :it( &(ariat 9a: in disp-tes 4et:een pers!ns ad(erin0 t! t(e M-sli$ ,ait(. 5. 1t is B-ite !,ten p!sited t(at a M-sli$ $arria0e parta#es !, t(e nat-re !, a c!ntract. 1, t(is is s!) it :!-ld 4ec!$e necessar7 t! ad.ert t! t(e 1ndian C!ntract Act) 1872 (EC!ntract ActE ,!r s(!rt) :(ic( eCtends t! t(e :(!le !, 1ndia :it(!-t an7 eCcepti!n !, reli0i!n. &ecti!n 10 !, C!ntract Act artic-lates t(at all a0ree$ents are c!ntracts i, t(e7 are $ade 47 t(e ,ree c!nsent !, parties c!$petent t! c!ntract. &ecti!n 11 t(ere!, speci,ies t(at e.er7 pers!n is c!$petent t! c!ntract :(! is !, t(e a0e !, $a%!rit7 acc!rdin0 t! t(e la:s t! :(ic( (e is s-4%ect) and :(! is !, s!-nd $ind and is n!t disB-ali,ied ,r!$ c!ntractin0 47 an7 la: t! :(ic( (e is s-4%ect. A(-s an eCcepti!n reB-irin0 t(e applicati!n !, pers!nal la:s (as 4een car.ed !-t e.en in t(e C!ntract Act. O-r attenti!n (as 4een dra:n t! t(e !pini!n !, Dr. Aa(ir Ma($!!d in A(e M-sli$ 9a: !, 1ndia t! t(e e,,ect t(at Hit is !nl7 t(e ,!r$ !, $arria0e t(at in M-sli$ la: is c!ntract-al and n!n<cere$!nial6 $arria0e itsel, as a c!ncept is n!t $erel7 a Ec!ntractE.H A(e learned A-t(!r e$p(asi3es t(at t(e 8!l7 J-ran d!es n!t treat $arria0e as an !rdinar7 c!ntract. A(e s-4$issi!n (as 4een $ade 4e,!re -s t(at i, t(e pr!.isi!ns !, t(e C!ntract Act are $ade applica4le t! M-sli$ $arria0es) it :ill render n-0at!r7 $!st !, t(e pr!.isi!ns !, t(e &(ariat la:. We ,ind n! need t! del.e ,-rt(er int! t(is aspect ,!r t(e reas!n t(at &ecti!n 11 !, t(e C!ntract Act in ter$s prescri4es t(e applica4ilit7 !, pers!nal la:s !n t(e iss-e !, t(e c!$petenc7 !, a pers!n t! enter int! a c!ntract. +-rt(er$!re) as :e (a.e alread7 p!inted !-t) &ecti!n 2 !, t(e Ma%!rit7 Act indicates t(at its pr!.isi!ns d! n!t i$pact !n $atters !, $arria0e) d!:er) di.!rce and ad!pti!n. A(e Di.isi!n /enc( !, t(e 8i0( C!-rt !, *-dicat-re at Madras (as !pined in Ar-lananda .. P!nn-s:a$i MA2I/A2/01;7/1921 : A1 1922 Mad 1 t(at Has re0ards B-esti!ns !, $arria0e) ad!pti!n) etc. t(e capacit7 !, $in!rs is le,t -nt!-c(ed 47
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t(e 1ndian Ma%!rit7 Act...H. A(e sa$e c!ncl-si!n :as reac(ed in /(a0:ati .. District *-d0e MA2I/IP/0;09/19;2 : A1 19;;All?80 ) :(ere it :as (eld t(at a pers!n :(! (as attained $a%!rit7 -nder 8ind- 9a: :!-ld 4e le0all7 c!$petent t! $arr7 e.en t(!-0( s(e (ad n!t reac(ed t(e a0e prescri4ed -nder t(e Ma%!rit7 Act) t(at is) ei0(teen 7ears. Alt(!-0( t(e n!d-s 4e,!re t(e Di.isi!n /enc(es in A4d-l A3ee3 .. Pat(-$$a /i MA2I/A2/0275/1952 : A1 1952Mad75? ) A($ed

&-le$an .. /ai +at$a MA2I/M8/0119/19;0 : (19;0);2/OM9 1;72 ) and !, a &in0le *-d0e in 2a#setan /i4i .. 8a4i4a4 a($an A1 19?8 Cal 55 :as :(et(er a s-it ,iled 47 a pers!n 4el!: t(e a0e !, ei0(teen :as $aintaina4le) all !, t(e$ -neB-i.!call7 p!sit t(at t(e $arria0e !, a M-sli$ a,ter reac(in0 p-4ert7 4-t 4e,!re t-rnin0 ei0(teen is .alid) 4eca-se t(e pers!nal la:s t! :(ic( s(e is s-4%ect per$it it. 1n t(is anal7sis) it is !-r !pini!n t(at a M-sli$ 0irl :(! (as reac(ed p-4ert7 !r is pres-$ed t! (a.e reac(ed p-4ert7 !n attainin0 t(e a0e !, ,i,teen) is c!$petent t! enter int! $atri$!n7 e.en i, t(is parta#es !, a c!ntract si$plicit!r. 5. We $-st) at !nce) clari,7 t(at -nder M-sli$ la: t(e $arria0e !, a 0irl :(! (as n!t attained p-4ert7 is ne.ert(eless le0iti$ate pr!.ided it (as t(e c!nsent !, (er =-ardian(Wali). 1n s-c( cases) (!:e.er) t(e :i,e (as t(e !pti!n t! rep-diate t(e $arria0e :(en s(e reac(es p-4ert7. At t(e .er7 t(res(!ld !, t(is *-d0$ent :e (ad rec!rded t(e c!ntenti!n !, t(e Petiti!ner t(at t(e 4r!t(er<in<la: !, Mst. A,sana :as n!t %-st a :itness t! t(e $arria0e 4-t (ad acted as (er =-ardian/Wali. e$ar#a4l7) t(ere is n! e.idence !r $aterial :(ats!e.er re,lectin0 t(e presence !r c!nsent !, t(e ,at(er !, Mst. A,sana t! (er $arria0e. O-r attenti!n (as 4een dra:n t! a,,ida.its s-4$itted 47 t(e Petiti!ner t! t(e Ja3i in :(ic( (is a0e is stated as 22 7ears and t(at !, Mst. A,sana as 19 7ears. 1, s(e :as in ,act 19 7ears !ld at t(e ti$e !, (er $arria0e) t(ere :!-ld n!t (a.e 4een an7 reB-ire$ent ,!r t(e c!nsent !, (er ,at(er. 1t (as 4een esta4lis(ed in t(ese pr!ceedin0s t(at t(e state$ents in t(ese a,,ida.its are n!t c!rrect) as Mst. A,sana is $-c( 7!-n0er t(an 19 7ears. On t(e c!ntrar7) it is ne4-l!-s and -ncertain :(et(er s(e :as e.en 15 7ears !, a0e !r (ad act-all7 reac(ed p-4ert7 !n t(e date !, (er s!<called $arria0e. As re0ards t(e ,act-$ !, (er Wali (a.in0 c!nsented t! t(e $arria0e) it $-st 4e n!ted t(at t(is i$p!rtant ,-ncti!n cann!t 4e ,-l,illed 47 a 4r!t(er<in< la:. 1t appears t! 4e c!$$!n t! all sc(!!ls !, M-sli$ 9a: t(at t(e ,at(er) and in (is a4sence t(e paternal 0rand,at(er) $-st per,!r$ t(e ri0(ts) d-ties and !4li0ati!ns !, a Wali. D-rin0 t(e li,eti$e !, t(e ,at(er n! !t(er relati.e is c!$petent t! ,-ncti!n as t(e Wali. 1n t(e a4sence !, t(e ,at(er) t(e 0rand,at(er) t(e 0reat 0rand,at(er) t(e 4r!t(er) t(e -ncle !r 0rand-ncle and t(e $!t(er) in t(is seB-ence) are c!$petent t! act as t(e Wali. 1t :!-ld 4e !, ad.anta0e t! re,er t! '(ati%a /e0-$ .. =-la$ Dasta0ir MA2I/AP/0108/1975 : A1 1975AP128 and A4d-l A(ad .. Mst. &(a( /e0-$ MA2I/*'/0005/1997 :(ere t(e Di.isi!n /enc( (as eCp!-nded -p!n t(is aspect. 1n t(e a4sence !, t(e $!t(er) t(e paternal !r $aternal 0rand$!t(er) t(e $aternal 0rand,at(er) t(e sister) !r -terine 4r!t(er !r sister) paternal a-nt) $aternal a-nt) $aternal -ncle !r a-nt) in t(at !rder) can per,!r$ t(e d-ties !, a Wali. A(e -nc!ntr!.erted p!siti!n 4e,!re -s is t(at Mst. A,sanaEs ,at(er) $!t(er and elder 4r!t(er) a$!n0st !t(ers) are ali.e and a.aila4le 4-t :ere n!t present :(en t(e $arria0e t!!# place. Acc!rdin0l7) t(e $arria0e c!-ld (a.e 4een le0all7 per,!r$ed) !nl7 i, Mst. A,sana (ad attained p-4ert7 !r $-st 4e pres-$ed t! (a.e attained p-4ert7 !n (a.in0 reac(ed (er 15t( 4irt(da7. A7-4 '(an .. Mst. A#(tari MA2I/IP/0151/195; : A1 195;All525 re$ains a-t(!rit7 ,!r t(e pr!p!siti!n t(at t(e $arria0e !, a M-sli$ $in!r (!ne :(! (as n!t attained p-4ert7) :it(!-t t(e c!nsent !, (er Wali is c!$pletel7 .!id) irrespecti.e !, (er c!nsent. 7. Medical Aests are indeter$inate as t! :(et(er Mst. A,sana :as 15 7ears !, a0e at t(e ti$e !, (er $arria0e. 1t is trite t(at -p!n t(e part7 :(ic( asserts and alle0es a partic-lar e.ent rests t(e 4-rden !, pr!.in0 it as a ,act. A(e Petiti!ner (as n!t tendered an7 pr!!, in t(is c!nnecti!n. A(e Medical Aests)
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(!:e.er) -neB-i.!call7 indicate t(at Mst. A,sana is n!t 19 7ears !, a0e. 1t is B-ite clear t(at t(e Petiti!ner (as s-4$itted a ,alse A,,ida.it pertainin0 t! t(e a0e !, Mst. A,sana. &ince (e is a $a%!r and Mst. A,sana is n!t) t(e resp!nsi4ilit7 $-st :ei0( (ea.il7 !n (is s(!-lders al!ne s! ,ar as t(is $is<declarati!n is c!ncerned. 8. Mst. A,sana (ad narrated t! -s t(r!-0( (er $!t(er and lad7 attendants t(at t(e $arria0e (as 4een c!ns-$$ated. Medical Opini!n) (!:e.er) is t! t(e c!ntrar7 as (er (7$en is intact and s(e) A(ere,!re) re$ains a .ir0in. One !, t(e reas!ns :(7 :e (a.e $enti!ned t(is ,act is t(at it $ani,ests near t!tal lac# !, #n!:led0e !n t(e part !, Mst. A,sana as t! 4i!l!0ical/p(7sical ,-ncti!ns. On pre.i!-s dates !, (earin0 s(e :as -na4le t! state :(et(er s(e (ad started $enstr-atin0. A(e Medical ep!rt c!n,ir$s t(at s(e (as n!: started $enstr-ati!n. 8!:e.er) it is -nclear :(et(er s(e (ad attained p-4ert7 !n t(e date !, (er $arria0e. O-r i$pressi!n is t(at s(e (ad n!t. We reiterate t(at t(ese e.ents s(!-ld (a.e 4een pr!.ed 47 t(e Petiti!ner) as it is (e :(! asserts t(e$. 9. 1n t(e e.ent) t(e Petiti!ner (as ,ailed t! esta4lis( t(at Mst. A,sana (ad !4tained p-4ert7 at t(e ti$e !, $arria0e) t(at is) ;1.;.2008 and/!r t(at s(e (as reac(ed t(e a0e !, 15 7ears. &ince (er ,at(er is ali.e) !nl7 (e :as c!$petent t! act (as (er Wali ,!r t(e p-rp!ses !, (er $arria0e as pri$a ,acie s(e :as a $in!r at t(at ti$e. A(ere,!re) t(e p-rp!rted $arria0e is 4atil !r .!id a4 initi!. 10. We (ad $enti!ned at t(e c!$$ence$ent !, t(is *-d0$ent t(at t(ere :ere c!$petin0 clai$s ,!r t(e c-st!d7 !, Mst. A,sana) t(at is 4et:een t(e Petiti!ner (as (er (-s4and)) and (er $!t(er. M-sli$ la: stip-lates t(at t(e $!t(er (as pri$ac7 s! ,ar as clai$s !, c-st!d7 !.er (er $in!r da-0(ter are c!ncerned. &ince !-r ,indin0s ,!r t(e p-rp!ses !, t(is Petiti!n are t! t(e e,,ect t(at a .alid $arria0e :as n!t per,!r$ed 4et:een t(e Petiti!ner and Mst. A,sana) (e (as n! ri0(t t! clai$ (er c-st!d7. 1n t(is re0ard :e :is( t! e$p(asise t(e .ie:s !, t(e Di.isi!n /enc( in &(a$a /e0 .. '(a:a%a M!(i-ddin A($ed 19 (1972) 2 Del.7;. 1n t(e c!-rse !, t(e last (earin0 :e (ad inB-ired ,r!$ Mst. A,sana :(! s(e :is(es t! reside :it(. 8er ans:er t! -s :as t(at :(ile s(e :!-ld li#e t! $eet t(e Petiti!ner) s(e desires t! reside :it( (er $!t(er. 1t appears t(at t(ese (a4eas c!rp-s pr!ceedin0s (a.e accelerated (er $at-rit7 !r prec!ci!-sness. Alt(!-0( s(e (as attained $a%!rit7 as per (er pers!nal la:s 47 t(e last date !, (earin0) t(ere47 renderin0 ine,,ect-al and irrele.ant (er $!t(erEs decisi!n as t! (er c-st!d7) :e (a.e n! !pti!n !r reas!n 4-t t! ,as(i!n !-r *-d0$ent as per A7-4 decisi!n and re%ect t(e clai$ ,!r c!n%-0al c-st!d7. 11. O-r attenti!n (as als! 4een dra:n t! t(e decisi!n !, t(e Di.isi!n /enc( c!$prisin0 Man$!(an &arin and Man%- =!el) **. in a.i '-$ar .. &tate :(ic( (as res-lted in t(e ,ilin0 !, t(e Petiti!n titled 2ati!nal C!$$issi!n ,!r W!$en .. =!.ern$ent !, 2CA !, Del(i. 1n a.i '-$ar t(e c!ncl-si!n :as t(at t(e $arria0e !, t:! 8ind-s) :(ere !ne !, t(e sp!-ses :as 15 7ears) did n!t render it .!id !r ille0al. A(e c-st!d7 !, t(e $in!r :i,e :as (anded !.er t! t(e (-s4and and pr!ceedin0s -nder &ecti!n ;5; 1PC :ere B-as(ed. &i$ilar !rders :ere als! passed in respect !, t(e !t(er Petiti!ner. A(ese .ie:s (a.e a0ain 4een reiterated 47 an!t(er Di.isi!n /enc( !, t(is C!-rt c!$prisin0 Man$!(an &arin and &.9. /(a7ana) **. in &-nil '-$ar .. &tate 2CA !, Del(i 2007(2) 9 C 55 (Del). 1t reB-ires t! 4e -ndersc!red) (!:e.er) t(at t(e la: pertainin0 t! M-sli$s is dissi$ilar t! t(at pertainin0 t! 8ind-s. 1n t(is re0ard :e (a.e per-sed t(e decisi!n !, t(e Di.isi!n /enc( in Mst. &(a4na$ .. M!(d. &(a,iB MA2I/ 8/0229/200? and

M-sta,a .. &$t. '(-rsida MA2I/ 8/0555/2005 . A(e Di.isi!n /enc( !, t(e 8i0( C!-rt !, *-dicat-re at /!$4a7 in Mani# Din#ar *a0tap .. &tate !, Ma(aras(tra (as als! (anded<!.er t(e c-st!d7 !, $in!r 8ind- :i,e t! (er (-s4and ,!ll!:in0 t(e decisi!n in Ma#e$$al &ail!! .. &-perintendent !, P!lice MA2I/AP/0028/2005 : 2005(2)A9D290 ) predicated !n t(e !pini!n t(at alt(!-0( a $arria0e !, a $in!r is an !,,ence -nder t(e 8M Act) ne.ert(eless t(e $arria0e is n!t in.alid.
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12. A(e .ie:s !, t(e Di.isi!n /enc( in Md. 1dris .. &tate !, /i(ar MA2I//8/01;2/1980 are !, n! assistance t! t(e Petiti!ner e.en t(!-0( in t(at case t(e c-st!d7 !, a 0irl !, 15 7ears :as 0ranted t! (er (-s4and e.en in t(e ,ace !, t(e !pp!siti!n !, (er ,at(er 4eca-se (er a0e (as n!t 4een adeB-atel7 pr!.ed in t(ese pr!ceedin0s. We are a:are t(at cri$inal pr!ceedin0s are pendin0 a0ainst t(e Petiti!ner and A(ere,!re :e (asten t! rec!rd t(at !-r ,indin0s are pri$a ,acie and are restricted t! t(is (a4eas c!rp-s petiti!n !nl7. 1;. A(is Petiti!n is acc!rdin0l7 dis$issed lea.in0 Mst. A,sana ,ree t! decide (er !:n ,ate and t(e ,-t-re. 1?. We rec!rd !-r 0ratit-de t! Mr. 2a%$i Wa3iri :(!) as an a$ic-s c-riae) (as assisted -s !n t(e rele.ant aspects !, M!(a$$edan la:. Mr. Wa3iri (as a.ailed !, t(e assistance !, Dr.&ai, Ma($!!d) t! :(!$ :e are als! t(an#,-l. A(ere s(all n!t 4e an7 !rder as t! c!sts.

K Man-patra 1n,!r$ati!n &!l-ti!ns P.t. 9td.

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