Girl called to HC in habeas corpus matter

On a directive of the Bombay High Court in a habeas corpus matter, police on Monday produced before a division bench a girl who was taken away by her parents to their native place in Punjab after she married a merchant marine officer in Mumbai.

On a directive of the Bombay High Court in a habeas corpus matter, police on Monday produced before a division bench a girl who was taken away by her parents to their native place in Punjab after she married a merchant marine officer in Mumbai.

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Justice Ajay Khanvilkar and Justice U.D. Salvi disposed of the petition filed by the Marine officer after police produced the girl before the court.

The bench refused to pass any order on the custody of the girl saying it was a matter to be decided amicably by the couple and their parents.

The matter arose in March 2008 when the petitioner Inderpal Walia went to Amritsar from Mumbai with his parents to sell family property. In Amritsar, he came in contact with Veena Kaur [name changed] and fell in love.

Inderpal and Veena wanted to get married with permission of their parents. However, the girl's family was not financially well off and they decided to get them married in Mumbai with minimal expenses.

In November 2008, Inderpal returned to Mumbai and two months later Veena arrived in Mumbai. Both were married at Arya Samaj here on January 20 last year and got themselves registered with the Registrar of Marriages, the petition said.

Later, Veena’s parents came to Mumbai and took her away against her wishes, the petitioner claimed adding he tried his best to persuade his in-laws but all was in vain.