Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Parties : Mr. Anshul Mangla, Mr. Praveen Bhadu, Mr. Sutikshan Sharma,

Based on the provided legal document, here are the key points:

1. The marriage of the Muslim girl, Salma, was performed according to Muslim Rites and Customs, and her age at the time of marriage was more than 15 years, specifically over 16 years and 6 months (!) (!) .

2. The marriage is considered prima facie valid under Muslim Personal Law, which recognizes that a Muslim girl who has attained puberty is competent to marry (!) (!) (!) .

3. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 defines a 'child' as a person below 18 years of age for females and below 21 for males, and a 'minor' as a person deemed not to have attained majority under the Majority Act, 1875 (!) (!) (!) .

4. The law states that a marriage of a girl who has attained puberty (above 15 years) is not necessarily void or voidable solely on the basis of age, provided the marriage conforms to personal laws and customs (!) (!) .

5. The court emphasized that the age of majority for females, in the context of Muslim Personal Law, is linked with puberty, and such marriages are recognized as valid if performed according to religious rites (!) (!) .

6. The court highlighted that fundamental rights under the Constitution, particularly the right to life and liberty, must be protected, even in cases where the marriage is performed against family wishes (!) .

7. The court held that the marriage of Salma and Shameem is valid, and Salma’s custody should be handed over to Shameem, her husband, as she is above the age of puberty and of marriageable age under Muslim Personal Law (!) .

8. The parents' plea for custody of Salma was dismissed, as their wishes are deemed inconsequential given the legal recognition of the marriage and Salma’s age (!) (!) .

9. The police are instructed to continue their investigation into the allegations of kidnapping and related offences, but the court’s order does not impede lawful investigation (!) .

10. The court directed the authorities to provide protection to the petitioners in the case, considering the threat perception to their safety (!) .

11. The legal provisions and interpretations reaffirm that age of puberty and majority under personal law can differ from statutory age limits for minors, especially in the context of Muslim personal law (!) (!) .

12. The court reaffirmed that the fundamental rights of individuals to marry and to personal liberty are protected under the Constitution, even when marriages are performed against family opposition, provided they are valid under personal law (!) (!) .

These points summarize the court’s reasoning, findings, and directions based on the case details and applicable law.