Kerala HC directs police to protect the interfaith of Jharkhand couple who is facing threats

On Thursday, the High Kerala Court intervened to protect an interfaith couple from Jharkhand, who sought refuge in Kerala, after facing a severe opposition and threats because of their families. The couple, Asha Verma, 26, and Mohammad Galib, 30, moved to Kerala earlier this year to escape threats and family hostility.

The couple, who has been in a relationship for a decade, married in Kayamkulaam, Alappuzha District, on February 11, 2023, under Islamic rites. However, their union was greeted by resistance from their families in Jharkhand. According to their petition, Asha’s sister, accompanied by a police officer from Rajrappa, Jharkhand, arrived at Kerala on February 14 and would have appeared on Asha to falsely claim that she was abducted, according to a report on the PTI. ASHA refused to comply and instead requested protection against local authorities.

Fearing their safety, the couple was close to the High Keral Court, seeking protection under articles 19 (1) and 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to live anywhere in the country and the right to life and personal freedom. Their lawyer, lawyer Srikanth Thamban, claimed that the fundamental rights of the couple were violated due to threats from their families and potential police interference.

The justice of CS Dias, hearing the plea, guided the Kayamkulaam Police Officer (Sh) to ensure the couple’s safety and to prevent forced repatriation to Jharkand, while the petition was pending. The court also issued a notification to the police requesting their answer before the next hearing.

The couple’s petition emphasized the urgent need for protection, saying, depending on the PTI, “they seek the court’s intervention by writing by Mandamus to guide the respondents to ensure their safety, to prevent forced removal and to take legal measures against those who endanger them. Immediate protection is essential to protect their constitutional rights and to prevent them.