http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20041109/haryana.htm#5

Exiled couple to be rehabilitated
Raman Mohan and Deepender
Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, November 8
Spurred by the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s directive, the district administration today decided to rehabilitate a couple living in exile for the past four years on orders of a ‘khap panchayat’, on the same lines as had been adopted in the case of Sonia and Rampal of Asanda village.

This decision was taken at a meeting between the Superintendent of Police Mohammed Akil and about 30 representatives of various organisations. This was the second meeting on the issue after the couple, Ashish and Darshana, of Jaundhi village filed a writ seeking rehabilitation. The Peoples’ Union for Civil Liberties, Panchkula, which also took up Sonia’s case is also a party to this petition.

The SP met representatives of all organisations individually as well as jointly. He said later that it was decided to summon a panchayat in Jaundhi village at 11 am tomorrow at the same venue where the panchayat that had exiled the couple in 2000 had met. Mr Daya Kishen who had presided over the panchayat then has been asked to chair tomorrow’s meeting also.

He said the administration would, by and large, follow the same line as it had adopted in the Sonia-Rampal case where a panchayat was summoned to withdraw the diktat and validate their marriage. Representatives of Jaundhi village had also requested that the village community be involved in the final decision.

Mr Akil said some ticklish issues remained to be sorted out to ensure social acceptability of the decision to rehabilitate the exiled couple. The effort was to ensure that the couple did not face any backlash once they were rehabilitated. He reiterated that the administration was determined to rehabilitate the couple come what may, though every attempt would be made to do so by general consensus.

All India Jat Mahasabha general secretary Nathu Ram, Dagar khap chief Narain Singh and Jagmati Sangwan of the Janwadi Mahila Samiti were among those who attended the meeting. The sarpanch of Jandhi, a woman, also attended the meeting.