Kerala ‘love jihad’ case: Marriage of an adult woman can't be nullified, says SC

While hearing a plea of Shafin Jahan from Kerala, the Supreme Court on 3rd October said that a father cannot dictate the personal life of a 24-year-old daughter.

Hearing a petition filed by a Kerala man-Shefin Jahan, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Mishra said, “The question is whether an HC on an Article 226 petition can annul the marriage”.

Shafeen Jahan, husband of a woman in the Kerala Love Jihad case, on September 16 filed a plea requesting the apex court to call off the NIA probe, alleging that the investigation agency "is not being fair".

Earlier in August, the NIA began investigation into the case following the top court's orders.

In compliance with the orders of the top court, the case was re-registered by the NIA and an investigation was taken up.

The case pertains to the annulment of the marriage of a Hindu woman to a Muslim man post her conversion, by the Kerala High Court as it amounted to ' Love Jihad'.

Shafin, who had married Akhila Ashokan in December last, had moved the apex court after the Kerala High Court annulled the marriage.

The Kerala Government said that if the apex court wanted an NIA probe, it had no objections.

The Supreme Court said that after getting inputs from the NIA and Kerala Police probe, it would interview Akhila to ascertain her views.

Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Indira Jaising are arguing the case.

-With ANI inputs