The Supreme Court has permitted Hadiya alias Akhila, who has been caught up in the so-called love jihad case, to be released from the custody of her father and resume studies after she pleaded that she wanted freedom to make her own choices. Hadiya is studying in a homeopathic college at Salem.
Appearing in court wearing a ‘abhaya’, Hadiya responded to questions put by a bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra with Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud. The bench inquired her regarding her plans for the future, and how she planned on supporting herself.
With senior advocate V Giri translating for her, Hadiya responded to all questions comfortably. Giri informed the bench said that her response to a question regarding her dreams was that “she wanted get freedom”.
She had earlier told the media that she wants to be with her husband.
Husband Will Take Care Of My Needs Hadiya Says
Hadiya was put into her father’s custody by the Kerala high court which has annulled her marriage and also asked for a probe into whether an organised syndicate was involved in “love jihad” .
In her responses to the SC bench, Hadiya said that she wants to complete her studies and expressed worry that her parents might not allow her to do so. She has been in custody of her father for the past six months.
She stated in response to a question regarding what she wants to do, she said that she wanted to pursue her medical studies and live a life “true to her faith.”
The court asked her next on who would fund her study and if she was agreeable to the state paying for her studies. Hadiya answered that she was not in any need of help from the government and that her husband would be looking after her needs.
The bench also enquired regarding who needed to be appointed as her local guardian but to this she responded stating that her husband should be appointed guardian and there was no need for anyone else.
Love Jihad Cases Allege Forceful Conversions
Hadiya’s case is a one of the bunch of petitions filed with the SC wherein the parents have alleged that their daughters have fallen victim to “love jihad” allegedly a conspiracy by radical Muslim groups that want to convert non-Muslim women through marriage.
The NIA has highlighted in a report submitted to the SC that there was a possibility of some radical organisations were participating in a “love jihad” operation, based on a report prepared by the Kerala police. Other than the Hadiya case, NIA also investigated the case of Athira Nambiar, who has since gone back to her family.
