Tag Archives: India

Protecting a Live in Couple – A recent Case – A problem in India

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Law is not clearly defined in India for live in relationships. These are new social problems. Law has yet to catch up with them.

A recent case

Boy was 18 plus. Adult. But marriage age defined by law is 21. He cannot marry legally.

Girl was 22 plus. Adult. Marriage age defined is 18 for girls.

Strange situation.

She can legally marry boy but boy cannot legally marry her until he crosses 21 age.

The Problem.

They were in love since four years. Father of girl was forcing her to marry elsewhere. She left home. Started living with boy.

LEGAL TROUBLE

Father registered a complaint with police that girl was minor. The boy had kidnapped her. The idea of father was to get girl back by using police power and marry her off somewhere else and to put boy in jail.

The couple went into hiding. Father of boy came seeking legal help.

LEGAL STEPS TAKEN

A petition was filed in Supreme Court stating details, seeking help against abuse of police power. Directions were asked against police and against father of girl.

A FURTHER most important direction was sought:

In 2006 Supreme Court has issued directions to all police stations to protect inter caste love bird marriages. It was prayed that this directions may be further clarified to include live in relationships.

PROCESS:

A copy of petition was sent immediately to police station and to father of girls. Dispute got resolved within hours. It was not necessary to move further the petition filed in Supreme Court. The couple is today living happily.

But problem lingers on for such other couples in India.

Two foundational truths of Mahatma Gandhi – 1) King Harishchandra 2) 20 Stsnza of GITA

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Many have analysed life of Mahatma Gandhi and volumes are written about him.

In my view, his foundational truths came in two phases.

First, when he was a child of about 4 to 5 years, when he saw a stage drama of story of King Hsrishchandra.

Second foundational truth came in college days when he came in touch with meanings of about 20 stanza of GITA

Story of King Harishandra is about a King who had taken vow to speak nothing and nothing but the whole truth. His vow puts him into troubles. He loses Kingdom. He and his family are sold as slaves. And yet he refuses to break his vow. In the end, the God becomes pleased with him and he emerges victorious and his Kingdom and family are restored.

Second foundational truth came when he understood about 20 Stanza of GITA during his college days.

Everyday, he recited and memorised these stanza from GITA.

The stanza mainly said

1) You are a soul. The soul is immortal. Births and deaths are like changing clothes for the soul. No weapon can kill the soul.

2) You have no right to claim outcome or reward of your action. Outcome of every action is result of inputs from several factors. You cannot claim sole ownership of outcome of your work.

Your job is to do your duty, you never have any rights on fruits of your action. The fruits of your actions belong to Eternity.

His life was centred around these two foundational truths.