A social panchayat in Arya Nagar village of Haryana’s Hisar district has passed a resolution opposing love marriages between people from the same village and called for the social boycott of couples who go ahead with such unions.
The resolution was adopted on Sunday at a gathering attended by around 1,000 villagers, including village elders. It also proposed similar action against family members and others who support such marriages. A committee will conduct a door-to-door campaign to seek villagers’ views on the proposed ban.
The move follows three recent instances in which couples from Arya Nagar married each other. According to Arya Nagar sarpanch Rattan Singh, two of the couples belonged to different castes, while one couple was from the same caste.
Social panchayat takes decision
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of village elder Kulwant Gosla. According to people familiar with the matter, villagers took the decision after the three marriages, which they said were contrary to longstanding social customs.
The resolution proposes that couples from the village who marry each other face social boycott and not be allowed to reside in Arya Nagar. Family members or others supporting such marriages could also face similar social action.
A related report said the latest marriage, which took place a few days before the meeting, had prompted a stronger reaction among villagers. The couple had stayed for some time at a district administration-run safe house for runaway couples in Hisar town.
A villager, Bhajan Lal, said residents considered every girl in the village their own daughter and believed the practice of love marriages was contrary to established social customs.
Elected panchayat distances itself
Rattan Singh, who attended the gathering, said the elected village panchayat had no role in passing the resolution. He said the decision was taken by the social panchayat after the three recent marriages.
The resolution has also drawn attention beyond Arya Nagar. The Tribune reported that a khap panchayat in Jind district had similarly resolved to socially boycott couples whose marriages conflict with prevailing social norms, including marriages involving people from the same or neighbouring villages or those belonging to the same gotra.
Some young residents have opposed the Arya Nagar decision on social media, describing the restrictions as outdated.
Police assure couples of safety
Hisar Superintendent of Police Siddhant Jain said he would look into the matter and assured that police would ensure the safety and security of couples who may face threats following such marriages.
Senior advocate of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Kamal Anand said consenting adults have a fundamental right under Article 21 to choose their life partners. He said panchayat diktats imposing social boycotts have no legal validity and could invite criminal and statutory action.
Anand also suggested dialogue, saying those organising or enforcing such orders could face criminal action for intimidation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The development has also prompted discussion over the distinction between community resolutions and legally enforceable decisions, with reports noting that the elected village panchayat itself has distanced itself from the social panchayat’s decision.