Irom Sharmila to tie the knot with British fianc©

MADURAI: The marriage of Manipuri Rights activist Ms. Irom Sharmila is all set to be solemnized at a sub-registrar office in Kodaikanal on August 16, as objections raised have not been in accordance with the law. Sharmila and her British boyfriend Desmond Coutinho had submitted their papers for their marriage at the sub-registrar office in Kodaikanal on July 12 and their names had been put up on the notice board.

K. Mahendran, DMDK youth wing secretary, Kodaikanal Union, was the first one to raise objection to their marriage on the ground that it would affect peace and tranquility in the hills because Sharmila had stated in the media that she would fight for the rights of tribals in the hills. However on Friday, the sub-registrar at Kodaikanal rejected his petition stating that it was not valid and it did not fall under any regulations specified under section 4 in the Special Marriage Act, 1954. The official source said that four other petitions filed by members including from Hindu Makkal Katchi and Uzhavar Uzhaippalar Sangam against her marriage would also get rejected because they had not raised objection as per the Act. Henceforth, the sub-registrar’s office will not receive any fresh  petitions as time-frame for receiving such petitions is over. “We will conduct the marriage following the regulations,” said the source.