SRINAGAR: A routine petition from a 19-year-old woman and her much older husband, a moulvi, seeking protection from the woman’s family aroused the suspicion of Jammu and Kashmir high court after the judge interacted with the bride, prompting the HC to order an investigation into a criminal network allegedly luring young and vulnerable girls.“A moment of vigilance on the part of this court, being able to prevent the life of a teenage girl from going to waste, is the best opening for this order,” Justice Rahul Bharti said.A govt lawyer said that after interacting with the petitioners, the court sent the bride to Open Shelter for Girls Home in Srinagar last week, and the man to Shaheed Gunj police station for investigation, where police found that the man was already married.During the second hearing, the court handed over the custody of the teenager to her mother.Justice Bharti observed, “The proceedings of this case would continue suo motu before this court, particularly considering the fact that even the role of the advocate representing the petitioners needs to be seriously brought under scrutiny.”The court directed the registrar Judicial in Srinagar to issue a notice to the advocate. The judge also ordered a probe into the role of the moulvi, by whose reference the alleged nikahnama dated Nov 14, 2025, was produced in the court.The HC appointed an amicus curiae to assist in examining issues related to the safety and security of young girls, particularly in rural areas.Justice Bharti also directed the SSP to ensure the safety and security of the girl and her mother and sought the name of a woman IPS officer posted in Kashmir to probe the case.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’One Phone Call From PM Modi Can End This Issue’: UAE Envoy On Iran-Israel-US WarIndia’s Top Military Commander Says AI Will Decide Future Wars, Admit India Is Taking Baby StepsIran Defies Trump, Chooses Khamenei’s Son As Supreme Leader; U.S Bombs Iran School, Shows New VideoIs India’s Internet Connectivity At Risk With War Threatening Undersea Cables At Strait Of Hormuz?Crude Oil Rally Near 120 Dollars, Raises Big Question If India Can Survive Crisis With Russian OilUS-Iran War Triggers Massive Selloff On Dalal Street, Investors Lose Rs 12 Lakh Crore In Single DayBengal’s Tribal and SC/ST Votes In Spotlight as BJP Ramps Up Outreach Amid President Protocol RowJaishankar Statement On Iran War Sparks Walkout As Opposition Demands Full Debate, BJP Hits BackLok Sabha Arithmetic Takes Center Stage As Opposition Moves No-Confidence Motion On Speaker Om Birla”Never Seen Such Irresponsible Oppn…” Rijiju Hits Out At Oppn Over Uproar In Parliament123PhotostoriesFrom blood diamonds to lab-grown gold: Is the jewellery industry finally evolving?8 traditional ways to enjoy Parwal or Pointed Gourd during summer seasonIndian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah house in Ahmedabad: Spacious living, elegant interiors, serene bedroom and modern gymFrom Sanjana Ganesan to Mahieka Sharma: Meet the wives and girlfriends (WAGs) of 2026 T20 World Cup-winning cricketersFrequent calf cramps while walking: Doctors explain when it may signal circulation problems, not dehydrationSingapore’s costliest real estate streets for wealthy buyers and investors in 2026A bridge for giants: Elephants use Bengaluru’s first wildlife overpassInside Jasprit Bumrah’s Car Collection: 5 luxury cars he owns7 Korean habits to lose weight quicklyIs samosa really a pie? Samosa finds its way into British Pie Awards first time in 18 years123Hot PicksIran war newsStock Market todayMojtaba KhameneiPakistan Oil Price TodayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingVallabh MaheshwariUS Stock Market todayUS Strike on Iran OilS JaishankarUS EmbassyBahrain BapcoIran School Attack VideoGulf TensionGold Price TodayArshdeep Singh
SRINAGAR: A routine petition from a 19-year-old woman and her much older husband, a moulvi, seeking protection from the woman’s family aroused the suspicion of Jammu and Kashmir high court after the judge interacted with the bride, prompting the HC to order an investigation into a criminal network allegedly luring young and vulnerable girls.“A moment of vigilance on the part of this court, being able to prevent the life of a teenage girl from going to waste, is the best opening for this order,” Justice Rahul Bharti said.A govt lawyer said that after interacting with the petitioners, the court sent the bride to Open Shelter for Girls Home in Srinagar last week, and the man to Shaheed Gunj police station for investigation, where police found that the man was already married.During the second hearing, the court handed over the custody of the teenager to her mother.Justice Bharti observed, “The proceedings of this case would continue suo motu before this court, particularly considering the fact that even the role of the advocate representing the petitioners needs to be seriously brought under scrutiny.”The court directed the registrar Judicial in Srinagar to issue a notice to the advocate. The judge also ordered a probe into the role of the moulvi, by whose reference the alleged nikahnama dated Nov 14, 2025, was produced in the court.The HC appointed an amicus curiae to assist in examining issues related to the safety and security of young girls, particularly in rural areas.Justice Bharti also directed the SSP to ensure the safety and security of the girl and her mother and sought the name of a woman IPS officer posted in Kashmir to probe the case.
