In a unique decision, the Rajasthan High Court has granted permission for two life convicts to get married at the open-air prison in Mandore, Jodhpur. The court emphasized that the marriage of these two individuals, both serving life sentences for separate murders, is a right protected under Article 21 of the Constitution. This move is seen as a step towards their rehabilitation and eventual reintegration into society.
The male convict, Moolaram, who has been imprisoned since 2017 for murder, sought the court’s approval to marry Seema Gadse Gulab, also a life convict for her husband’s murder. The court, in its ruling, highlighted the importance of allowing such marriages to support the convicts’ rehabilitation process and their transition back into normal life post-release.
Advocate Kaluram Bhati, representing Moolaram, argued that the marriage would facilitate the couple’s reformation and enable them to establish a stable family life after their incarceration. The court’s decision was influenced by a previous judgment by the Rajasthan High Court that recognized prisoners’ rights to marry and have children as part of their fundamental rights under Article 21.
The state government confirmed the convicts’ desire to marry and acknowledged their existing live-in relationship. Public prosecutors assured the court that the state had no objections to the marriage taking place at the open-air camp, provided it adhered to prison regulations. The bench stressed that marriage is a crucial social institution and that incarcerated individuals should not be denied the opportunity to enter into consensual marriages.
The High Court specified that a maximum of 21 family members from each side, along with the officiating priest, could attend the wedding at the Mandore Open Air Camp. Any requests for additional attendees would be subject to approval by prison authorities. The court also instructed the couple to notify the prison administration well in advance of the wedding date, with all ceremony expenses to be covered by Moolaram.
