Bombay HC directs Maharashtra to submit data on safe houses, special cells for interfaith couples by October 21

MUMBAI: Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the state to provide, by Oct 21, data on the number of safe houses and special cells that have been created in every district to date for the protection of interfaith and inter-caste couples.
An interfaith couple, both 24 years old, who wished to get married under the Special Marriage Act in Mumbai, claimed a “grave threat” to their life and liberty from their families and society. They had petitioned the High Court last year for protection and safe accommodation in safe houses as directed by the Supreme Court in 2018, in its Shakti Vahini judgment.
The Supreme Court had laid down preventive, remedial, and punitive measures to deal with threats faced by inter-faith and inter-caste couples in each state.
Last Oct, the High Court directed interim police protection to enable them to get married. The interim protection was given to the two Mumbai residents when they arrived in the city from Delhi for registration of their marriage, till their departure the next day.
Last month, state prosecutor PP Shinde tendered a Sept 13, 2024 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) prepared by the state for the creation of cells and safe houses.
On Wednesday, their senior advocate Mihir Desai and advocate Lara Jesani submitted that although SOPs have been issued to the chief secretaries of all the state govts, Maharashtra has not provided details on the number of safe houses and special cells created as directed by the Supreme Court and Centre. Desai relied on a May 31, 2018, letter from the Centre to all states.
A division bench of Justices Revati Mohit Dere and Prithviraj Chavan, in its order made available on Thursday, observed that the directions of both the Supreme Court and Centre are six years old. It is appropriate that the State produces such details soon.