The Delhi HC bench rules Muslim girls can marry at the age of 15, according to Mohammedan Law if the girl attains puberty.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court’s bench of justices S Ravindra Bhat and S P Garg has ruled that a Muslim girl can marry as per her choice at the age of 15 years if she has attained puberty and held that the marriage of a minor girl is valid and she can live in her matrimonial house.
The bench noted that under the Mohammedan Law a girl can marry without the consent of her parents once she attains the age of puberty and she has the right to reside with her husband even if she is below the age of majority.
The bench ruled while citing various Supreme Court judgments on the issue of minor Muslim girls' marriage "In view of the above judgments, it is clear that a Muslim girl who has attained puberty (15) years can marry and such a marriage would not be a void marriage. However, she has the option of treating the marriage as voidable, at the time of her attaining the age of majority (18)".
The bench accepted the plea of 16-year-old girl to permit her to live in her matrimonial home, the bench disposed of the habeas corpus petition filed by the girl's mother alleging that her daughter was kidnapped by the boy and he forced her into marriage in April 2011.