The ossification test report of Jyoti Meer, one of the two Nooran sisters, popular Sufi singers from Jalandhar, has revealed that she is a minor.
The test report from Government Multi-Specialty Hospital in Sector 16, Chandigarh, was submitted on Monday in the court headed by justice TPS Mann during the resumed hearing in the case where Jyoti has been seeking protection from her parents after solemnising the marriage against their wishes at a Chandigarh temple on August 2.
As per the report, Jyoti’s age is roughly between 16½ and 17 and the doctors have claimed that it could be slightly less or more.
Though Jyoti claims she is 20, her parents say her matriculation certificate shows her as 16, thus she is a minor. Jyoti, who claims to have firm belief in Hinduism unlike her Muslim parents, solemnised the marriage with Kunal Passi, a resident of Mohalla Chaudhrian in Phillaur tehsil of Jalandhar district as per Hindu Vedic rites.
Jyoti had told the court that her parents were “very greedy and clever” and had managed to forge her matriculation certificate and changed her date of birth to pass her off as a minor on the instructions of her promoter to accommodate her mother on a Canadian trip as her caretaker.
Taking the report on record, the court directed the in-charge of the Chandigarh protection home in Sector 19 to again take back Jyoti along with Passi, to the protection home. The court directed the in-charge to produce both in the court on the next date of hearing.
{{/usCountry}}Taking the report on record, the court directed the in-charge of the Chandigarh protection home in Sector 19 to again take back Jyoti along with Passi, to the protection home. The court directed the in-charge to produce both in the court on the next date of hearing.
{{/usCountry}}During the arguments, Jyoti’s counsel argued, “Since Jyoti’s father had also approached me, there is a possibility of manipulation of the ossification report. They can go to any extent.”
But the court took a serious note of the counsel questioning the credibility of the report submitted by the government hospital. “It was your request to conduct ossification. On that day you said that her (Jyoti’s) father had produced certificates and if found wrong, action should be taken against him. Now the report has come against you. What should be done now,” questioned justice Mann.
On this, Jyoti’s counsel submitted that at least the petitioners should be provided protection of life and liberty as per their prayer in the petition. Because of the lack of time for detailed arguments in the case on Monday, the court posted the matter for September 18.
(with inputs from Ravinder Vasudeva)