Madras High Court paves way for church wedding on Skype
Our family wished to perform the wedding of David and S Arulviji in the church, Jesu said
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-11-16 06:09 GMT
Chennai: In a novel way using a social network app, Skype, the Madras High Court passed an order directing the police in Ramanathapuram to provide security cover to a couple to enter into wedlock.
On a direction from Justice S. Vaidyanathan, the police provided security cover at Adaikala Matha Church, RS Mangalam, Ramanathapuram on Sunday and the marriage ceremony was blessed by Rev Santhanam and Jerome of Madurai.
Justice V. Ramasubramanian, the administrative judge of the High Court Bench, Madurai, suggested to Justice S. Vaidyanathan to use the app as none of the judges were in the temple city due to a week-long Diwali vacation for the court.
Petitioner, M. Jesu, father of the groom, David Philip Raja, submitted that a group in Adaikala Matha Church was opposing his son’s marriage ceremony in the church.
Jesu said “Our family wished to perform the wedding of David and S Arulviji in the church”. After Jesu faced stiff opposition, he approached the police seeking police protection to conduct the marriage ceremony in the church.
As there was no response, Jesu filed a writ petition before the Madurai Bench of Madras High court in the last minute. Immediately, the Assistant Registrar contacted Justice V. Ramasubramanian over the phone about the writ petition with a plea for an urgent hearing.
The judge directed the Registry to use the app and requested judge Justice S. Vaidyanathan, who was in Chennai on Saturday, to hear arguments, advanced by the lawyers in Madurai, and pass orders.
The writ petitions and other documents were scanned and sent to Justice S. Vaidyanathan through email. Justice S. Vaidyanathan heard the petitioner’s lawyer V. Panneerselvam and Government Advocate S. Chandrasekar with the help of Skype. Later, the judge mailed the order granting police protection to them. The couple’s marriage was solemnised later at the village church with police protection.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.