In a fresh twist to Hadiya case, the principal of Sivaraj Medical College, G Kannan has said that 24-year-old woman will not be allowed to meet her husband.
Kannan also said that Hadiya will only be allowed to meet her parents while her movement outside the college campus will be monitored. She will also be registered under her Hindu name Akhila Ashokan in the college, he told reporters in Salem.
No I will not allow anyone to meet #Hadiya, only her parents can meet her: Dr. G Kannan, Principal of Sivaraj Homeopathy College pic.twitter.com/ETMCSXYEaX
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2017
Kannan’s diktat comes in sharp violation of the Supreme Court’s order, which did not apply any restrictions on Hadiya’s ability to meet the person of her choice including her husband.
The Supreme Court’s order to set her from her father’s captive on Monday was widely condemned with experts mocking the apex court’s refusal to stay the Kerala High Court’s order anulling her marriage to Shafin Jahan after she embraced Islam.
Amazing that the SC did not set the brave 24 Yr old #Hadiya free to live with whoever & wherever, & had appointed college Dean as her guardian! But hats off to Hadia for holding out under such immense pressure & saying clearly that she converted freely & wants to be with husband https://t.co/qUtNXYc9g3
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) November 27, 2017
Hadiya stood brave & firm for her right to make her life choices. But India’s highest court let her down shamefully. Communal prejudice and patriarchy combine to block her freedom & agency. How can it bar an adult woman from living with the man she chose to wed? #StandWithHadiya
— Harsh Mander (@harsh_mander) November 27, 2017
Genuine question for lawyers on the TL: What is the actual legal principle behind the Hadiya case? She is 24, has free choice, so what on earth is the opposing legal argument? #ELI5
— Mihir Sharma (@mihirssharma) November 27, 2017
Today’s Supreme Court decision on Hadiya is unfortunate. How can a 25 year old woman be stopped from living with her husband when she clearly states that she wants to? Her faith and her choice of husband is her own business.
— Pritish Nandy (@PritishNandy) November 27, 2017
In the history of Supreme Court, Hadiya will be among its most forgettable interventions. Problem: it will never be forgotten. No judge can dictate a 24-yr-old’s choices.
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) November 27, 2017
A Supreme Court judge on Monday had declined Hadiya’s request for her husband to be made her guardian as ‘wife is not a chattel.’
A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud had spoken to 25-year old Hadiya for nearly half-an-hour and asked questions on her life, ambition, studies and hobbies.
Hadiya had reportedly told the Supreme Court that she wanted the ‘freedom’ to live with her husband, profess her faith in Islam and that she very well aware of what she was doing, reported PTI.
When the bench asked Hadiya to name any relative or any near acquaintance to be named as her local guardian in college at Salem in Tamil Nadu, she said her husband could be her guardian and she does not want anyone else in that role.
“A husband cannot be a guardian of his wife. Wife is not a chattel. She has her own identity in life and society. Even I am not guardian of my wife. Please make her understand,” Justice Chandrachud said.
You can read the full order of the Supreme Court here