Arranged marriage ruled invalid in Family Court

A recent decision in the Family Court has refused to recognise the arranged marriage of a young Melbourne woman to a man she had never met, saying the union could not be valid under Australian law because the girl had not been truly free to consent.

The article claims:

"...The case, known as Kreet and Sampir, involved a girl who was tricked into travelling to India to marry a man chosen for her by her father.

Judge Paul Cronin, sitting in Melbourne, said the marriage could not be legal because the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had agreed to go through with the ceremony only because she was afraid of her parents..."

Judge Cronin said the marriage would be void if the girl could show that she gave her consent only because "some overbearing force was operating".

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