Thaindian News

Jodhpur, June 12 (IANS) A 24-year-old woman Tuesday approached the Rajasthan High Court’s Jodhpur bench requesting it to annul her marriage that was solemnised when she was nine years old.

After admitting her petition, the court issued notice to the state government directing it to provide security to the girl from the members of a community council who, she claimed, were threatening her and her family.

The girl, Shobha Choudhary, is a resident of Keru area in Jodhpur, some 350 km from Jaipur.

“I was married when I was nine years old. I stayed at my parents’ house until recently. But after a local custom called ‘gauna’, I was forced by our village community members to live with my in-laws,” Shobha told media persons.

“I found out soon that my husband is semi-illiterate while I am a graduate. I aspire to clear some competitive exams. So I could not accept such a marriage in any way,” she added.

When the caste council of her village came to know about her decision not to stay with her in-laws, she started getting threats, Shobha said.

“The caste council members threatened to expel me and my family members from the society which meant that we would not be able to mingle with other villagers,” she added.

Shobha said that she approached the Rajasthan High Court due to these threats.

“The court has issued notice asking the state government’s home secretary and Jodhpur police commissioner to provide me security,” said Shobha adding that she also wants to annual her marriage officially.

“Child marriage is illegal and being an educated girl, I am not going to accept it,” she asserted.