New Delhi November 30:
Expressing concern over growing number of minors eloping and tying the knot in temples, the Delhi High Court today directed a police probe against office bearers of a temple in North Delhi which conducts such illegal marriages.
"It is a matter of grave concern to the court, that in recent times, in a large number of cases of marriages where the parties are minors and have eloped from their homes, most of the marriages have been conducted at Arya Samaj temples situated in Yamuna Bazar," Justice Hima Kohli said.
"The State is directed to carry out a thorough investigation of the antecedents of Mandir and such other Mandirs situated in Yamuna Bazar which issue marriage and conversion certificates, including details of their management, the names and vocation of the office bearers of the management," the court said. The court directed the police to go through the bank accounts and other records maintained by the temple for the past three years and to submit a report before December 14.
"A complete verification of the constitution and the nature of activities undertaken by the Mandirs at Yamuna Bazar be conducted by the DCP of the area and an interim report shall be filed before the court," the bench said. The court passed the order after it was brought to its notice that a 12-year-old Muslim girl eloped and got married in the temple. The temple had arranged for the conversion of religion for the minor girl and got her converted to Hinduism for her marriage with her Hindu boyfriend. It was alleged that all the process of conversion and marriage took place on the premises of the temple in a day.
Expressing concern over growing number of minors eloping and tying the knot in temples, the Delhi High Court today directed a police probe against office bearers of a temple in North Delhi which conducts such illegal marriages.
"It is a matter of grave concern to the court, that in recent times, in a large number of cases of marriages where the parties are minors and have eloped from their homes, most of the marriages have been conducted at Arya Samaj temples situated in Yamuna Bazar," Justice Hima Kohli said.
"The State is directed to carry out a thorough investigation of the antecedents of Mandir and such other Mandirs situated in Yamuna Bazar which issue marriage and conversion certificates, including details of their management, the names and vocation of the office bearers of the management," the court said. The court directed the police to go through the bank accounts and other records maintained by the temple for the past three years and to submit a report before December 14.
"A complete verification of the constitution and the nature of activities undertaken by the Mandirs at Yamuna Bazar be conducted by the DCP of the area and an interim report shall be filed before the court," the bench said. The court passed the order after it was brought to its notice that a 12-year-old Muslim girl eloped and got married in the temple. The temple had arranged for the conversion of religion for the minor girl and got her converted to Hinduism for her marriage with her Hindu boyfriend. It was alleged that all the process of conversion and marriage took place on the premises of the temple in a day.
