A Delhi trial court has directed authorities to conduct an investigation on illegal marriages being conducted at Arya Samaj temples located in Yamuna Bazar, shortly after which the Delhi High Court ordered a comprehensive investigation to be conducted against the office bearers of these temples.
“It is a matter of grave concern to the court that, in recent times, a large number of marriages involved the participation of minors who had eloped from their homes. Most of these marriages were conducted at Arya Samaj temples situated in Yamuna Bazar,” said Justice Hima Kohli.
The court has instructed the police to check the bank accounts and other records of the temple authorities over the past 3 years and submit a report on or before Dec 14.
The court has become increasingly concerned over the number of minors eloping from their homes to get married at Arya Samaj temples, especially after the case of a 12-year-old Muslim girl, who ran away from her home with a Hindu boy. Allegedly, the temple authorities had converted the girl to Hinduism and conducted her marriage with the boy.
With regard to a separate case, ASJ Kamini Lau directed the police to investigate allegations that the temple was solemnizing marriages without following the correct procedure, a phenomenon referred by the judge as “socially objectionable and legally impermissible.” Further speaking about the matter, she said: “It is a matter of very serious concern... It has been observed that many such marriages are being performed in cases of runaway couples or where one of the party is a minor, or in cases where marriage is otherwise prohibited under the customary and statutory law.”
