The hour-long interaction between the Supreme Court and Hadiya saw the judges repeatedly ask the 25-year-old whether she wanted to complete her homoeopathy internship in her college at Salem in Tamil Nadu.
“When we all grow up, we have to survive on our own. Parents cannot take care of us for the rest of our lives.. so you must have the ability to stand up on your own and live a life of dignity,” Justice D.Y. Chandrachud told Hadiya.
“Are you willing to complete your house surgeoncy?” Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, who led the Bench, also comprising of Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, asked her.
Replying through her interpreter and senior advocate V. Giri, Hadiya said she certainly wanted to complete her house surgeoncy.
The court asked her whether she wanted to continue her studies under the state expense.
Hadiya replied with a counter-question that why should state be charged when her “husband”, Shafin Jahan, was willing to take care of her expenses.
At one point, she said she wanted to see Jahan and she had been kept in “unlawful custody” for 11 months. But the court said it would appreciate only if she wanted to resume her studies.
Later, Hadiya asked whether she could have a local guardian at Salem. When the court suggested a family member, she refused, saying she did not want a guardian then. Later, the court gave the dean of the college the responsibility to approach the apex court in case she encountered any problems in Salem.
The court finally ordered Hadiya to be accompanied by police in plainclothes, who would see that she reached her college safely in Salem. The court asked the Tamil Nadu police to make arrangements to deal with any security problems she may encounter in Salem.
