Supreme Court Grants Bail to Muslim Man Married to Hindu Woman with Family Consent. The Court stated that an adult couple cannot be prevented from living together.
Supreme Court: Aman Siddiqui alias Aman Chaudhary from Uttarakhand had been imprisoned for the past six months on charges of marrying a Hindu woman. The accusation was that he deceptively concealed his religious identity to secure the marriage. However, the Supreme Court has now delivered a very clear and significant ruling on this matter.
Both Families Consented to the Marriage
Aman Siddiqui and his wife informed the court that their marriage was conducted with the consent of both families. It was not a case of "love jihad," but a traditional arranged marriage. Both are adults and made their own decision. After the marriage, Aman also submitted an affidavit stating that he had not pressured his wife to change her religion.
Supreme Court Expresses Displeasure
During the hearing, the bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma reprimanded the Uttarakhand government. The court stated that the state should have no objection to the couple living together. Both are adults and are free to live together.
The court also stated that criminal proceedings should not affect the couple's right to live together. With this observation, the Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of Aman Siddiqui on bail.
Misuse of the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act?
Aman was arrested under the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2018, and the Indian Penal Code, 2023. The accusation was that he concealed his Muslim identity and married according to Hindu customs, constituting "deception." However, the court found no concrete basis for this claim. The lawyer also stated that Aman provided an affidavit on the day of the marriage clearly stating that there was no coercion or deceit involved.
Petitioner's Argument
Aman's lawyer informed the Supreme Court that certain organizations and local individuals had raised objections unnecessarily. He stated that if granted bail, the couple wished to live peacefully, separately from their families.
