J&K&L High Court Flags 'Marriage Traps' Targeting Young Girls, Seeks Woman IPS Officer To Probe Alleged Predatory Practices
The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has expressed serious concern over a case where a 19-year-old girl approached the Court seeking protection for her intended marriage with a 46-year-old man, who was later found to be already married. Taking note of the circumstances, the Court said that the matter raised broader questions regarding the possibility of vulnerable young women...
The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has expressed serious concern over a case where a 19-year-old girl approached the Court seeking protection for her intended marriage with a 46-year-old man, who was later found to be already married. Taking note of the circumstances, the Court said that the matter raised broader questions regarding the possibility of vulnerable young women being lured into exploitative “marriage traps”.
The High Court observed that courts cannot treat such cases as isolated incidents where vulnerable young women may be lured into exploitative marriages. A bench of Justice Rahul Bharti passed a series of directions not only to secure the immediate safety of the girl but also to examine whether similar incidents reflect a larger pattern of exploitation in society.
At the outset, the Court remarked on the role of judicial vigilance in preventing potential harm to the young woman, observing,
“A moment of vigil on the part of this Court being able to prevent life of a 19 years aged young girl from going waste, is best opening for this order as sequence of events preceding this date of proceedings has been able to establish.”
Background:
The case came before the High Court after the 19-year-old girl approached the Court seeking protection of her intended marriage with a 46-year-old man. During the proceedings, it emerged that the man was already married, raising serious concerns about the circumstances in which the young woman had been persuaded into the relationship.
Considering the vulnerability of the girl, the Court initially directed that she be placed in the custody of a women's shelter in Srinagar. A report regarding her situation was later submitted before the Court in a sealed cover by a worker from the shelter home. Upon examining the report, the Court directed that the girl be handed over to the custody of her mother.
While addressing the immediate issue relating to the girl's safety, the Court made it clear that the matter could not be treated as an isolated dispute and closed merely by restoring her custody to her family.
The Court took note of a Nikahnama dated November 14, 2025, which allegedly formalised the marriage between the 19-year-old girl and the 46-year-old man. This prompted the Court to raise concerns regarding the role of intermediaries and whether vulnerable girls were being manipulated into such marriages.
Expressing concern over possible exploitation, the Court observed,
“The role of the religious preacher/moulvi, by whose reference the alleged Nikahnama dated 14.11.2025 has come to be produced, also needs to be thoroughly scanned as to whether there is a criminal racket going on with respect to alluring young and gullible girls like the petitioner No.1 by self-proclaimed peers and tantriks having a predatory presence and play in the society.”
In order to examine the broader implications arising from the case, the Court appointed Advocate Sehreen Zehra as amicus curiae to assist the Court in addressing the larger concerns regarding such alleged practices. The Court also requested a social worker from the Open Shelter for Girls at Nowgam, Srinagar, to assist the amicus curiae in understanding the social dimensions of the issue.
Direction For Inquiry:
In a subsequent order dated March 3, the Court sought the assistance of the Union Territory administration for initiating a preliminary inquiry into the matter.
Justice Bharti directed the Senior Additional Advocate General Mohsin Qadri to inform the Court about the availability of a woman IPS officer posted in Srinagar or elsewhere in Kashmir province who could be entrusted with conducting an inquiry.
The Court observed that the inquiry should examine whether the young woman had fallen victim to a “trap” involving the already married man and whether similar predatory practices exist in rural areas.
Calling for a serious probe into the issue, the Court remarked that such incidents could not be allowed to pass without proper scrutiny to determine whether vulnerable girls were being targeted through deceitful marriage arrangements.
“Therefore, for the said purpose, assignment is to be entrusted to a woman IPS officer stationed in the Kashmir Province, given the fact that this case may have ramifications of Inter-Districts nature as well”, the court concluded and scheduled the matter on a next date for further consideration.
Case Title: Sania Nazir Vs UT Of J&K