However, during the hearings, the Bench stressed upon the need to decide the validity of such marriages in eyes of law. It thus noted that the conversion certificate and the marriage certificate were without any authority of law and hence null and void.
“Considering these factors and the sensitivity of the issue involved, this Court is constrained to exercise its extraordinary constitutional jurisdiction, under Article 226 of the Constitution, to checkmate such situation and its recurrence in future at the hands of respondent no.6 (Trust),” the Court said.
The Court also found that the issuance of a conversion certificate by the trust was in stark violation of Section 5 of the Madhya Pradesh Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam, 1968. It was noted that the trust was empowered only to arrange marriage ceremonies according to Hindu rites and customs, and not to solemnize them and issue marriage certificates.
Source: Barandbench
