SC upholds Hadiya s marriage (Lead)

New Delhi March 8 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Thursday restored the marriage of Kerala woman Hadiya formerly a Hindu with Shafin Jahan setting aside a Kerala High Court order annulling their wedding.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said in a brief operative order that a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the criminal aspect of the case if any would however continue.

Shafin Jahan had challenged the High Court order that nullified the marriage.

On October 3 the Supreme Court had said it would examine whether the High Court could annul the marriage following a petition by her parents.

Hadiya 24 earlier Akhila Ashokan embraced Islam and married Shafin Jahan a Muslim. Hadiya s father alleged that she was forcibly converted by groups with links to terrorist outfits.

Reacting to the Supreme Court verdict on Thursday Hadiya s father Ashokan said he "respects the court order but will seek legal recourse on the verdict".

"The verdict has only cleared that her marriage is in order. The court has asked for the NIA probe to continue as the larger question we raised is that Shafin Jahan is a terrorist " he told the media at his house near Kottayam in Kerala.

"We accept the apex court s order as the law has to be respected. A father is in pain to hear that his daughter has gone with a terrorist. We still maintain the marriage was stage-managed... We will seek legal recourse " Ashokan added.

--IANS
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