Advocates refuse aid to women marrying against parents’ wishes

Jodhpur: Outraged at the recent suicide by the parents of a woman who was adamant on marrying a man from another caste, lawyers in Rani town in Pali district have decided not to provide legal assistance to any woman in marrying against her parents’ wishes. The local lawyers’ association passed a resolution to neither provide any legal help in getting such a marriage registered nor any legal aid post-marriage to a woman who marries against the wishes of her parents or elopes with a man. The unanimously passed resolution said that as responsible citizens, lawyers consider such acts of rebellion by daughters as shameful and damning for a civilised society.President of the Rani advocates’ association, Rajendra Gautam, said that the decision has been taken keeping in view the pain and trauma that parents suffer when their daughter commits such an act.“This may not have a huge impact but at least this can set a precedent as a small step towards discouragement of this practice in society,” he said.On July 24, the parents of a 24-year-old woman had committed suicide by jumping before a train a day after she married a man against their wishes. The woman had approached the Pali SP to seek protection from her parents. A suicide note recovered by police from the father’s pocket stated that he and his wife were shattered by the decision taken by their daughter and had decided to end their lives. The woman’s brother also left home in anger and was found by police in Delhi three days later.
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