E-Paper
18-year-old approaches court to annul child marriage in Rajasthan
She suffered in silence for 12 years, but finally, Pintu Devi gathered the courage and knocked the doors of Family court-1 of Jodhpur.
At 6, when Pintu Devi should have been playing with friends and thinking of school, she was married off to a youth from Saran Nagar in Jodhpur.
She suffered in silence for 12 years, but finally, Pintu Devi gathered the courage and knocked the doors of Family court-1 of Jodhpur for dissolving her child marriage. Terrified of constant threats from her in-laws, she got the support of Dr Kriti Bharti, rehabilitation psychologist and managing trustee of Saarthi Trust, and filed a plea in the family court to annul her marriage. Justice PK Jain admitted the petition and issued notices to her husband.
Devi, now 18, is the daughter of a daily wage labourer, Sohanlal Bishnoi of Pithawas village of Jodhpur. Her in-laws were allegedly involved in criminal activities, and her family lived in fear every day. Later, they threaten Devi and her family of a social boycott if the child marriage was terminated.
A few days ago, Devi and her family came to know about Bharti and contacted her. With her help, Devi filed a petition to annul her child marriage.
She presented documents relating to Devi’s age and other related documents.
“I was married at a tender age. My in-laws are involved in criminal activities. There are other reasons also for which I do not want to go to my in-law’s place. Now, with the support of Kriti didi, I have filed a petition to annul the child marriage. I am hopeful to be released from the bond of child marriage soon,” Devi said.
“Devi’s in-laws were pressurising her. First, we have filed a case for annulment of child marriage and after that action will be taken against them for their activities. Besides, efforts are being made for better rehabilitation of Devi,” Bharati said.
