Court says marriage is a fundamental right, asks jamath to issue NOC

TAKING a view that 'right to get married' is part of one's right to privacy and therefore it partakes the character of a fundamental right, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court directed a jamath at Thinaikulam in Ramanathapuram to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to enable a couple to get married through another jamath in Melakottai village, where the bride's family currently resides.

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Justice G R Swaminathan gave the direction on a petition by the bride's mother, who is a permanent resident of Thinaikulam. Since her husband is working abroad, she is staying in Melakottai and wanted to conduct her daughter's marriage ceremony under the aegis of Melakottai jamath, which is not possible without an NOC from the jurisdictional jamath. Alleging that the AI Mazithun Noor Jumma Pallivasal Jamath in Thinaikulam, which is their jurisdictional jamat