SC refuses PIL seeking ban on same-gotra marriage

New Delhi, Jun 14: The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act to ban marriages with in the same gotra (sub caste) was refused by the Supreme Court on Monday, Jun 14. SC also asked the petitioner to appeal Punjab and Haryana High Courts for the amendment.

A commission from Khap panchayats had submitted a memorandum demanding amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act to prevent the weddings within the same gotra, at Chandigarh on Jun 10. The group had met Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, to submit the memorandum.

"Hooda maintained that in his personal capacity he felt marriages within same 'gotra' are not appropriate. But we did not get a categorical response on our demand that he should vigorously pursue the matter so that the Hindu Marriages Act is amended,"

reported Mewa Singh, who lead the 12-members team from Sarv Jatiya Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat. He was speaking to the reporters after the meeting at the Chief Minister's residence.

He said that Hooda gave a patient hearing to their demands, but they were not completely satisfied. He added that they have demanded the Chief Minister to call an all-party meeting voer the issue. They are also planning a conference called 'mahapanchayat' at Meham in which Khaps from across the country will take part on Aug 1.

Navin Jindal, Hooda's young party colleague and MP from Kurukshetra, had attended a Khap congregation at Kaithal last month and promised to take up their demand for amending the Hindu Marriage Act with the party high command.

OneIndia News