Srinagar July 15 (KNS) : In a significant development, the Jammu & Kashmir High Court had directed the government to reconsider a contentious clause in the State Marriage Assistance Scheme (SMAS) that requires girls to be at least 8th class pass to receive marriage assistance.
The directive came while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate and public policy professional Hamid Rather, who argued that the condition is arbitrary and unconstitutional. He contended that the rule unfairly excludes the poorest girls who could not finish school due to poverty, conflict, or lack of educational access.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
A Division Bench led by Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal instructed the administration to decide on the matter within two months, following which the PIL was disposed of.
Welcoming the order, Hamid Rather said this was a small but important step towards restoring the original intent of the scheme — to support poor girls and protect their dignity without punishing them for circumstances beyond their control.(KNS)