‘Concerned’ Bombay HC plays father of the bride

It isn’t unusual for the high court to come to the rescue of runaway couples and inter-caste marriages. But this time the judge donned the role of a protective guardian, expressing concern for the girl’s future before uniting her with her husband.

While hearing a habeas corpus on Wednesday, the Bombay high court questioned the abilities of a Maharashtrian young man to support his wife from Jharkhand, who had gone against her family’s wishes to marry him.

The couple in question was Nilesh Karpe, 24, and Shilparani Singh, 22, who met in Karjat while pursuing an MBA and fell in love. The couple solemnised their marriage in Ulhasnagar on May 16 this year. However, apprehending opposition from Singh’s family, they informed the Nerul police station of their marriage.
Karpe’s lawyer Naveen Chomal told the court that Karpe and Singh were adults and had married with consent. But Singh’s family had detained her in Jharkhand against her wishes.

The court was told that after their marriage, Singh’s father and brother convinced her that if she came to Bokaro with them they would arrange for a proper wedding ceremony and also invite their relatives to save them the embarrassment. However, they went back on their word and forced Singh to stay in Bokaro.
Chomal said that Karpe was an MBA and in a position to support Singh. “Being an MBA does not mean he has a job,” justice BH Marlapalle said. The court further enquired whether Karpe had a house of his own and what his father’s profession was. Chomal said that Karpe lived with his parents and his father was a BEST bus driver.

“We have to ensure that someone [Singh] who has taken such a risk in life is protected,” Marlapalle said.

After speaking with the girl, additional public prosecutor Mankunwar Deshmukh told the court that she wished to go with her husband. “In the eyes of the law, she’s somebody’s wife,” Marlapalle remarked and permitted Singh to go to her husband’s house.

While Karpe’s father cried tears of joy to welcome his daughter-in-law, Singh’s brother was inconsolable outside the courtroom.