Kerala ‘love jihad’ case: SC says woman’s consent is prime
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the father of Akhila, alias Hadiya, a 24-year-old Hindu woman from Kerala who converted to Islam, to present her in court on November 27 to ascertain her views on her marriage to a Muslim man, Shafin Jahan. A Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said it would ascertain her views in the open court. It turned down a suggestion from her father that she be questioned by the judges in-camera. Akhila, alias Hadiya, had converted to Islam last year and married Shafin Jahan. Her father had appealed for in-camera proceedings, to which the Supreme Court refused. The marriage had been challenged in the High Court by Hadiya's father, who also alleged that her husband had links with terror group IS. Jahan had also pleaded before the Supreme Court to cancel the National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into their marriage. The NIA probe was ordered by the apex court. -PTC News
