Rajasthan HC Allows Woman To Leave Her Parents To Cohabit With Man Who Had Taken Her As His Second Wife

A division bench of the Rajasthan High Court comprising of Justices Sandeep Mehta and Vinit Kumar Mathur yesterday (Monday, 25 March) permitted a 26-year-old woman, Rupal Soni, to leave her parents and stay with Moniuddin Abbasi, the man who had allegedly contracted a second marriage with her, reports Hindustan Times.

The court gave the order while it was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Abbasi, who claimed that Soni was being held hostage by her parents and that he had married her on 23 July 2018.

During the previous hearing of the case on 13 March, it was revealed that the petitioner already had another wife, along with two children, before marrying Soni. The court had ordered that the woman be put up at a government home for women at Udaipur.

She was again brought before the court yesterday. The court noted the girl’s firm affirmation that she wanted to resume her relationship with the petitioner. It reasoned that she was a mature person above the age of majority, and that she could take her own rational decisions.

“In view of this matter, we direct that Rupal Soni, the alleged detenue shall be set at liberty forthwith. She is free to proceed to the place where she desires to go. She shall be provided appropriate security till she reaches Nari Niketan, Udaipur, from where she will be at liberty to collect her belongings,” the court ordered.

Soni’s parents and other relatives were also present during the hearing.