The Madras High Court annulled the marriage of a 20-year-old woman to her former teacher after she testified that she had signed the marriage registration papers under pressure and without fully understanding the consequences. The young woman was brought before the court, where she revealed that the marriage occurred under coercive circumstances.
Chennai: The Madras High Court annulled the marriage of a 20-year-old woman who had been compelled into marriage by her former teacher, a man nearly twenty years her senior.
Exercising its powers under Article 226 of the Constitution, the court voided the marriage registration, citing “special circumstances” and the mutual “consent of the couple” to separate.
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A division bench comprising Justices SM Subramaniam and V Sivagnanam stated,
“In view of the consent expressed by the petitioner and the detenue for annulling the marriage, we are inclined to set aside the registration of marriage made before the Registrar of Marriages at Puducherry in 2024,”
“The parties are at liberty to submit this order before the Registrar of Marriages for effecting necessary entries cancelling the marriage in the marriage register.”
The teacher had initially filed a habeas corpus petition in the High Court, alleging that the woman was being held illegally by her parents and requesting that she be allowed to go with him.
However, when brought before the court, the woman revealed that she had signed the marriage papers under pressure and without fully understanding the consequences.
She further expressed a desire to pursue her higher education and remain apart from the petitioner. Acknowledging his actions, the teacher agreed to end the marriage and promised not to interfere with the woman’s future.
The court directed that a copy of its order be sent to the Registrar of Marriages in Puducherry to update the register and officially cancel the marriage.
Following the court’s decision, the bench instructed the Registry to send a copy of the order to the Registrar of Marriages in Puducherry.
This directive intended to ensure that the marriage was formally removed from the official records, thereby restoring the woman’s legal independence. By officially voiding the marriage, the court reinforced the principles of consent and choice, particularly in cases where there may be undue influence or pressure.
This judgment serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding individual rights within the institution of marriage, reinforcing the judiciary’s role in upholding personal liberty and autonomy.
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