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 .

The father of the girl who first alleged his daughter had been kidnapped, later opposed the marriage before the court claiming that 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 concluded and refused to allow the cops to arrest Narender, a resident of Sangam Vihar in south Delhi, who married his lover from the same gotra . 'Allowing Narender's bail plea, Lau directed the police not to arrest him over a police complaint filed by his wife's family.

Narender had eloped with his neighbour after falling in love with her and married her following stiff opposition to their relationship being swagotra . Later, the girl's parents lodged an FIR with Sangam Vihar police station accusing Narender of inducing and kidnapping their daughter.

Sources: The Times Of India