New Delhi, June 18 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday stepped in to protect a 16-year-old girl from Bihar who alleged she was forcibly married to a man twice her age and subjected to repeated abuse.

The court directed both the Bihar Director General of Police and the Delhi Police Commissioner to ensure her safety, along with that of her friend who helped her escape the marriage and now faces kidnapping charges.

A bench comprising Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan issued the directions while hearing a petition filed by the girl through her friend. The petition sought annulment of the marriage under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and protection from any coercive action by the police.

The girl, who had just appeared for her Class 10 board examinations, was allegedly married off on December 9, 2024, under pressure from her family.

The man she was married to, a 33-year-old civil contractor, reportedly demanded the marriage as repayment for financial support extended to the family.

According to the plea, the girl was sent to live with him immediately after the ceremony and was denied return to her parental home.

She alleged that her in-laws pressured her to bear a child and blocked her from continuing her education.

The petition further claimed that she was subjected to emotional and physical abuse, especially after she resisted sexual advances.

In January 2025, her maternal uncle managed to bring her back to her parents' home temporarily. However, her pleas to terminate the marriage and resume her studies were ignored.

On March 31, 2025, the girl fled her home with the help of a friend and has been on the run since, fearing for her life.

The petition revealed that her husband made public threats to kill her, reportedly saying he would “happily go to jail” for it.

Her mother subsequently filed a kidnapping case against her friend at Piplawan Naubatpur Police Station in Patna, allegedly concealing the fact that the girl had been married off.

The petition emphasised the urgency of the situation fearing that she would be killed if apprehended or forced to return. She urged the Court to protect her from police action until the matter is fully adjudicated.

Taking note of the threat to the minor’s life, the Supreme Court ordered both Bihar and Delhi Police to provide the girl and her friend with emergency contact numbers for immediate assistance and to ensure their security.

The court also directed the police chiefs to submit a status report before the next hearing and issued notices to the girl's mother and the civil contractor husband, who have been named as parties in the case.

The matter is scheduled for further hearing in July.

UNI SNG PRS