HC comes to rescue of runaway, interfaith couple

New Delhi, Aug 21 (UNI) The Delhi High Court came to rescue of an inter-religious couple, dismissing a complaint of kidnapping against the bridegroom.

Justice SN Dhingra dismissed the petition by Nazrana Pervez's father accusing the bridegoom Pawan Kumar, a Hindu, of having kidnapped his daughter, thus allowing them to live together.

The couple has been on the run since they got married at the Arya Samaj Mandir at Yamuna Bazar on June 21.

It was also contended that the girl was younger than legally required for her consent to the marriage, having just passed her high school board examination. Although the certificates furnished before the court claimed her age to be 14 years 6 months, an ossification test found her between 17 years and 19 years, and the court ruled her to be old enough to grant a legal consent.

Pawan and Nazrana, hailing from the same locality of the capital, fell in love but met with strong opposition from their parents, forcing them to run away on June 17. Nazrana also decided to adopt Hinduism and took the name Neetu. The police filed an FIR on the folowing day, based on her parents' complaints.

UNI