SC Denies Urgent Hearing For ‘In-Camera’ Proceedings In Hadiya Case

Following the Supreme Court’s order in the Kerala ‘Love Jihad’ case calling Hadiya aka Akhila to an open court to hear her side, the girl's father Ashokan K M had filed an urgent plea for an in-camera interaction. The apex court has quashed the father’s request, The Hindu reported.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y.Chandrachud said that it will hear the plea on the same day of hearing -- November 27. On October 30, the bench had instructed for Hadiya’s presence in the court.

Asokan’s lawyer had filed an urgent plea requesting the apex court to modify its order of calling an open court due to the communally sensitive nature of the case. He further raised concern over certain radical elements who could try to risk the safety and privacy of Hadiya and her family.

Hadiya (24) married Jahan last year when she was a Hindu girl, Akhila Asokan. Hadiya’s father found out about the inter-religious marriage. He then filed a plea in Kerala HC to cancel their marriage. Ashokan alleged that Hadiya met her husband on an Islamist matrimonial site. He also accused her husband of intending to fly Hadiya to the war-torn Syria as a human bomb and making her join the ISIS.

Asokan’s lawyer claims that Hadiya’s husband, Shafin Jahan, is part of a radicalised group and has links with the ISIS recruiter in India

Earlier, on August 16, the court had said that the bench would speak to Hadiya in-camera before giving the final verdict. However, it later changed the order and said, “We may further add that this court shall speak to her not in camera but in open court.”

ALSO READ: ‘Love Jihad’: Bring Hadiya To Court On Nov 27, SC Tells Her FathergrThe SC had earlier said that free consent of an adult needs confirmation as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) asserted that an indoctrinated person is less capable of giving free consent to marriage. It talked about “psychological kidnapping” while talking about Hadiya’s alleged indoctrination by a radical group. The NIA also hinted on Kerala being a breeding ground for such indoctrination and said that 89 cases of Love Jihad are currently under investigation.

Asokan’s lawyer claims that Hadiya’s husband, Shafin Jahan is part of the radicalised group. And that he has links with the ISIS recruiter in India.

Picture credit- The News Minute