Cannot Marry first Cousin, it’s illegal, says High Court

The High Court of Punjab & Haryana has made it clear that first cousins can't marry. The Bench also ruled that a youth’s claims of marrying his first cousin, with whom he was in a live-in relationship, were by itself illegal. 

Justice Arvind Singh Sangwan ruled, “The submission in the present petition that they will perform marriage as & when the girl attains the age of 18 is per se illegal".

The assertion came after the youth moved the HC against the State of Punjab for grant of anticipatory bail in a case registered for kidnapping & another offence on Aug 18 under Sections 363 & 366-A of the Indian Penal Code at Khanna City-2 Police Station in Ludhiana district.

His lawyer told Justice Sangwan’s Bench that the petitioner had also filed a criminal writ plea, along with the girl, for protection of life & liberty. Taking a note of the submission, Justice Sangwan summoned the criminal writ petition’s court file before observing that the girl was said to be 17.

Justice Sangwan also took note of the fact the youth, in the plea, had submitted that both of them were in a live-in-relationship. In a representation annexed with the appeal, the girl had said that her parents had love & affection for their sons & she was ignored by them.

Opposing the bail plea, the state counsel contended that the girl was a minor. Her parents lodged an FIR as she & the youth were first cousins & their fathers were real brothers. 

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