Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai   

Girl wants to marry prisoner-fiancee

By A. Subramani

CHENNAI MARCH 27. R. Sahitha (23), a graduate, has moved the Madras High Court with a strange plea: To release her lover from jail on parole for 10 days, so that they could marry. Her `fiancee', Sheikh Meeran, is a condemned prisoner facing the noose.

Involved in a gruesome murder inside a court hall, Sheikh Meeran was sentenced to death by a sessions court in 1997. It was confirmed by the Madras High Court in 1998 and the Supreme Court in 1999. The Tamil Nadu Government rejected his mercy plea. Another mercy plea is pending before the President since October 23, 2000.

Undeterred by the impending gloom, Ms. Sahitha says the affair blossomed when she was studying in the Parasakthi College at Courtallam. Expecting to marry him, she then converted to Islam when Meeran got involved in the murder. Now she hopes that the mercy petition pending before the President would bring her `good news'.

She has stated in clearest possible terms that she was aware of the `hardships' that would befall her if she married a condemned prisoner. Ms. Sahitha said: ``In view of the intimate relationship that existed between me and Meeran I cannot marry anyone else''. The local jamaath is ready to perform the Nikkah, provided the groom comes out on a 10-day parole.

In her petition, Ms. Sahitha gave an undertaking that she and Meeran would comply with any condition imposed by the court. She had sent a representation to the State Home Secretary, but was yet to hear from him. The `groom' is now lodged in the Palayamkottai Central Prison.

Justice P. Sathsivam did not order Meeran's release. But he directed the respondent-officials to consider Ms. Sahitha's representation and pass an order one way or the other within four weeks.

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