( 1 ) HABEAS Corpus Writ Petition No. 4056 of 1997 and Habeas Corpus Writ Petition No. 8049 of 1997 are being disposed of by a common order. Sri Kamal Krishna who has appeared for the petitioner in Case No. 4056/97 and Sri Z. K. Hasan who has appeared for the petitioner in Case No. 8049/97 have been heard.

( 2 ) THE allegations in Case No. 4056/97 are that Smt. Seeta Devi and Mahendra are residents of the same village and they fell in love with each other and decided to marry. Both are stated to be major. It is alleged that they got their marriage registered before the Sub-Registrar on 28-9-1996 and it is further alleged that Smt. Seeta Devi is being confined in the house of opposite party No. 2 who is related to her father Mata Pher, opposite party No. 1.

( 3 ) THE allegations in Case No. 8049/97 are that Smt. Sahista Anis, petitioner No. 1 was married to Syed Ejaz Hussain, petitioner No. 2, according to Muslim rites on 21-12-1995. They lived happily for some time. However, the parents and brother of opposite party No. 1, Smt. Sahista Anis, insisted that both of them should live with the respondents. It is further alleged on 14-5-1996, in the absence of petitioner No