Facing strong opposition for her marriage with a Dalit man, a Vanniyar woman has moved the Madras High Court seeking protection for her in-laws from individuals from her community in Cuddalore district. When her plea came up for hearing on Tuesday, Justice P.N. Prakash said, “It is the duty of the instrumentalities of the State including this Court to encourage inter-caste marriages and afford protection to couples of such marriage” and further directed the Deputy Superintendent of Police of Neyveli to investigate all the four FIRs registered in connection with the issue.
The 28-year-old Vijayalakshmi, who has sought the support of All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) to approach the High Court, married Sivaramakrishnan in 2013. But they did not disclose their marriage to their parents.
Later, when her father was looking for an alliance, she sought AIDWA’s assistance to convince him about her marriage with the Dalit man. Since all efforts, including attempts by legislator K. Balakrishnan of Chidambaram constituency, went in vain, the couple married as per Hindu rituals on March 2 this year.
Since May this year, AIDWA functionaries have been receiving threats from the petitioner’s relatives demanding to know her whereabouts. An FIR was also registered against a complaint filed by AIDWA General Secretary Suganthi.
Though the Inspector General (North Zone) had promised action on the issue, the man’s relatives have been continuously receiving threats. Justice Prakash directed police to immediately afford protection to the family of Sivaramakrishnan “so that no harm befalls them”. He also said that the parties shall immediately lodge a complaint with the Superintendent of Police in case of specific incident of intimidation.
