"The Hindu Marriage Act which abrogates and modifies all the past laws and has made marriage now strictly adult and monogamous; has done away with the caste and gotra restriction," the court observed.

The court's clarification of the legal propositions with regard to social opposition to 'swagotra' marriages came while deciding an anticipatory bail application of a youth who had been accused of kidnapping and marrying a girl, belonging to the same 'gotra'.

According to the Hindu tradition, a boy and a girl of the same 'gotra' (ancestral lineage) cannot marry as such relationship is termed as 'incest'.

"It is time that certain misconception about swagotra marriage are cleared and there is need to educate people in view of thoughtless opposition to such marriages and ruthless aftermath which follows in the form of honour killing or social ostracisation," the court said.

Source: My News In