SC Declines PIL Seeking Ban on Swagotra Marriages
The Supreme Court has declined a PIL seeking an amendment in the Hindu marriage Act to impose a ban on swagotra marriages, said media reports.
The court also instructed the petitioner to move the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the same, reports said.
On June 10, a delegation of Khap panchayats had called on Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda demanding amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act to stop swagotra marriages and submitted a memorandum in the regard.
“Hooda maintained that in his personal capacity he felt marriages within same ‘gotra’ are not appropriate. But we did not get a categorical response on our demand that he should vigorously pursue the matter so that the Hindu Marriages Act is amended,” Mewa Singh, who led the 12-member delegation of Sarv Jatiya Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat, was quoted as saying while talking to reporters after the meeting at the chief minister’s residence.
He said that though the chief minister heard their demands patiently, but they were not fully contended, reports said.
Singh said that community council delegation demanded the chief minister to hold an all-party meeting over the issue, said reports.
“We will be meeting leaders of other parties as well on the issue. On August 1, we will be having a ‘mahapanchayat’ at Meham in which Khaps from across the country will take part,” he was quoted as saying.
(Based on internet reports)
