In a significant ruling, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has declared that a marriage between a Muslim man and a Hindu woman is not valid under Muslim personal law. Justice Gurpal Singh Ahluwalia emphasized that even if the couple were to opt for marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, it would still be considered irregular under Muslim law.
The decision was made during a hearing of a petition filed by a Muslim man and a Hindu woman seeking legal recognition of their relationship. The couple expressed their desire to marry without converting to each other’s religions, citing their commitment to their individual faiths.
However, the court upheld the tenets of Sharia law, which dictate that a Muslim man cannot marry a woman who practices idolatry or fire-worship. Despite the couple’s plea to marry under the Special Marriage Act, the court maintained that such a union would not override the prohibitions set forth by personal law.
The ruling comes amidst societal tensions surrounding interfaith relationships in India. The woman’s family opposed the marriage, fearing social ostracization, and accused her of taking jewelry from their home before leaving to marry her Muslim partner.
Despite arguments from the couple’s counsel advocating for their right to marry under secular law, the court dismissed their plea for police protection and registration under the Special Marriage Act. Justice Ahluwalia asserted that the couple’s unwillingness to convert or engage in a live-in relationship did not warrant judicial intervention.
The verdict underscores the complexities surrounding interfaith marriages in India, highlighting the clash between personal and secular legal frameworks and the challenges faced by couples navigating societal norms and familial opposition.
