New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Saturday stayed an unusual order of the Allahabad High Court asking the head of the astrology department of Lucknow University to decide whether the alleged rape victim Manglik or not. The high court had passed the order on May 23 while hearing the bail plea of a man accused of raping a girl on the false promise of marriage.
The man’s counsel had argued before the Allahabad High Court that since the girl was a Manglik, the marriage between the two could not take place. A vacation bench of the apex court, taking suo motu cognizance of the matter, stayed the High Court order. A bench headed by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia said, “This court takes suo motu cognizance of the matter which has been placed before us.”
The bench heard the matter on Saturday, a court holiday. The apex court said it did not understand why the High Court while hearing the bail application, asked both parties to submit their horoscopes to ascertain whether the girl was Manglik or not.
The High Court, in its May 23 order, had said, “Let the Head of the Department of Astrology, Lucknow University, decide whether the girl is Manglik or not and the concerned party shall submit the horoscope to the Head of the Department of Astrology, Lucknow University, within 10 days from today.” do. The Head of the Department (Astrology Department), Lucknow University is directed to submit the report in a sealed cover to this Court within three weeks. The matter is listed for June 26, 2023.
