‘Be a loyal husband, a great lover’: Supreme Court tells Muslim man married to Hindu woman

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]UPREME Court on Wednesday stressed that inter-caste and inter-faith marriages should be encouraged, asking a Muslim man married to a Hindu woman to be a "loyal husband" and a "great lover".

The apex court was hearing a controversial case of an inter-faith marriage from Chattisgarh.  A Hindu woman had married a Muslim man who had converted to Hinduism to get accepted by the woman's family. The woman's family that approached the apex court, however, claimed that the man had reconverted to Islam.

The counsel for the woman's father alleged that it was a racket to trap girls.

A bench headed Justice Arun Mishra said: "We are only concerned only about her future. We are not against inter-religious or inter-caste marriage."

The court observed that it is not averse to inter-faith and inter-caste marriages. "We only want the future of the girl should be secured."

The counsel for the woman's father said that the woman does not need any protection.

The top court sought a reply from state government and has asked the man to file an affidavit and show bona fide. It has also allowed the intervention application filed by the woman.

The matter has reached the top court for the second time. Previously, a bench headed by then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra had decided that the woman should go with the parents as per her wish.

While she was staying with her parents, police allegedly came to the maternal home and took the woman away. When the matter reached Chhattisgarh High Court, the woman had reportedly expressed her willingness to go with the husband.