The Madhya Pradesh High Court has dismissed the plea of an interfaith couple seeking police protection and the registration of their marriage, citing that the union of a Muslim man with a woman practicing fire-worship is not recognized under Muslim law.
In a ruling issued Monday, a bench of the High Court, led by Justice G S Ahluwalia, stated that under Mahomedan law, a marriage between a Muslim man and a woman who practices idolatry or fire-worship is considered invalid.
The court also emphasised that even if such a marriage is registered under the Special Marriage Act, it remains irregular (fasid) according to Muslim law.
The petitioners, Sarika Sen (23) and Safee Khan (23) from Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh, had sought the court's intervention for police protection and the registration of their marriage under the Special Marriage Act.
They affirmed their intent to continue practicing their respective religions after marriage.
Dinesh Upadhyay, the couple's lawyer, revealed that his clients had initially applied to the Anuppur district magistrate to formalize their marriage in October.
However, the final order on their application is pending. Consequently, the couple approached the High Court, citing opposition from the woman's parents and their relatives due to their inter-religious union.
According to Upadhyay, the woman's parents, along with relatives and a group identified as Hindu Dharm Sena, had been pressuring and threatening the couple, making it difficult for them to attend the court hearings regarding their marriage.
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