High Court Halts Marriage Ceremonies at Arya Samaj Temple in Lucknow

In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court has ordered the suspension of marriage ceremonies at an Arya Samaj temple in Lucknow. This decision stems from concerns regarding the verification of the legal marriageable age of couples. The court highlighted the responsibility of all parties involved if underage marriages occur. The case arose from a petition seeking protection from police harassment, revealing discrepancies in the age of one petitioner. The court has scheduled the next hearing for August 31, raising questions about the temple's compliance with legal standards.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 6, 2026, 07:57 IST

Court's Decision on Marriage Certificates

Lucknow, August 5 - The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has issued an order to suspend marriage ceremonies and the issuance of marriage certificates at an Arya Samaj temple until further notice. This decision comes in light of the temple's alleged failure to verify the legal marriageable age of couples prior to their wedding. The bench, comprising Justice Rajneesh Kumar and Justice Babita Rani, delivered this ruling while hearing a writ petition filed by Neha and another petitioner.

The petitioners sought protection from alleged police harassment. The court emphasized that if individuals below the legally mandated age are married, all parties involved in the process would be held accountable under the law. During the proceedings, the state government's lawyer argued that the age of petitioner Anand Kumar is 19 years according to his Aadhaar card, while the minimum legal age for marriage for men is 21 years.

The court raised concerns regarding the discrepancy in Anand Kumar's age, noting that his marriage certificate states he is 22 years old, whereas his Aadhaar card indicates a birth date of January 1, 2007, with no other evidence provided to clarify his age. The next hearing in this matter has been scheduled for August 31.