Maharashtra sets up panel to monitor inter-faith shaadis, draws flak

MUMBAI: A major row has erupted over the state government's decision to set up a panel to gather detailed information of inter-faith and intercaste marriages involving state residents in the wake of the Shraddha Walkar case.
Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh plans to go to court against the government resolution, calling it "bad in law". Women's groups are planning a protest against this "form of surveillance". They point out that the state has no right to interfere in the personal lives of adult citizens who are allowed by the Constitution to marry according to their wishes.
The government resolution says detailed information should be gathered about such marriages even if they are unregistered, the marriage takes place in a religious establishment or the couple elopes. The committee is also supposed to find out if the woman is in touch with her maternal family or estranged and to get her contact details from her family. It proposes setting up a platform to allow women in such marriages and their maternal families to access counselling, communicate and resolve disputes.
Shraddha Walkar was in a relationship with Aaftab Poonawalla, both from Mumbai's extreme northern suburbs, and is believed to have been murdered by him in Delhi. Her body was allegedly cut into 35 pieces and disposed of.

"This government resolution cannot override the Constitution and is bad in law. We will go to court. This has clearly been done with a communal mind to harass a particular community," said Shaikh. He claimed the GR was issued without cabinet approval.
"Is the government trying to get the caste system back? This goes against the Constitution. Is this a government or a marriage bureau? It's fortunate they are not yet saying we will see the kundali and let you know if the marriage can go ahead," tweeted NCP's Jitendra Awhad.
State women and child welfare minister Mangalprabhat Lodha defended the move. "The scope of the committee is limited. This is for the benefit of women who have entered interfaith marriages and then communication is cut off with their maternal families. We do not want another Shraddha Walkar case in the state," he said. The government will provide a helpline number.
"If there are hindrances in such marriages, there are options. The government should strengthen laws that protect women from domestic violence and provide security. Instead, it is trying to take away women's democratic rights and independence," said Kiran Moghe from the Sanghatna. The letter also objected to the composition of the committee, claiming it includes a lawyer for the accused in the Narendra Dabholkar case and a suspect linked to a terror outfit.