The Kerala High Court on Tuesday questioned the authority of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) to order the Kerala Police to hand over Kumbh Mela fame Monalisa Bhosle to the Madhya Pradesh Police..Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas questioned the basis of such directives by NCST"What is the right of this National Commission for passing any orders? How can the National Commission issue such a direction?" asked Justice Thomas.The judge then proceeded to direct that Bhosle cannot be handed over to the Madhya Pradesh Police without the Kerala High Court's permission. The interim order will operate until the Court's final decision on a plea moved by Bhosle seeking police protection. "The first respondent (State authority) is directed to instruct the jurisdictional police officer, including the Commissioner of Police, Kochi City, within whose jurisdiction the petitioner (Monalisa Bhosle) resides, to ensure that she is not removed from the jurisdictional limits without orders of this Court and against her will until disposal of the writ petition," the Court said. The judge passed the order after finding prima facie merit in Bhosle's arguments that she was facing threats to her life over her interfaith marriage..What is the right of this National Commission for passing any orders? How can the National Commission issue such a direction?Kerala High Court.The Court also directed the police to take emergent action if Bhosle faces any imminent threat to her life. "It is clarified that since the petitioner is hiding due to threats, if any emergent action is required, she shall contact the woman protection officer who has been assigned to ensure her safety. On such intimation, immediate adequate protection shall be provided to the petitioner," the Court said. .Monalisa had gained nationwide attention after videos of her selling prayer beads at the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela went viral.Earlier this year, she approached the Kerala High Court alleging threats to her life after her marriage to actor Mohammed Farman Khan. The marriage took place in Kerala and was widely reported in the media. The interfaith marriage, however, also drew controversy. Claims were made that the marriage was illegal as Bhosle was allegedly still a minor when the marriage took place. Bhosle and Khan have denied these allegations and maintained that she was 18 years old at the time of the marriage. .On June 20, the High Court granted Monalisa interim police protection from threats to her life and liberty. This protection came to an end on July 10 after the State told the Court that the police were unable to trace Monalisa. The Court, however, added that if she approached the appropriate police station and sought protection in writing, the police should provide her with adequate protection. Monalisa subsequently approached the police seeking protection. This development was reported to the Court as well, which then restored her earlier police protection on July 21. .Today, the Court took note of a letter from the Kerala police to its registry, indicating that the NCST has issued directions to hand over Bhosle to the Madhya Pradesh police. The Court orally questioned the basis of such directives. The Kerala Police's letter said that the NCST had issued its directions on a petition filed by a social worker concerning the Bhoshle's interfaith marriage and concerns about whether she was a minor when she entered the marriage. The letter also sought information regarding Bhosle's birth records from the Court's files. Justice Thomas took exception to this letter today, asking why such this letter was addressed only to the registry as part of a request for information from a court file. Such developments should have been brought to the Court's notice, the judge pointed out. "Tell your officer (police), how dare he write? Irrespective of what, this should be brought to the notice of the Court through the Government Pleader ... Does he expect this Court to act on a letter of the police?" asked Justice Thomas..Meanwhile, Bhosle's counsel maintained that threats to her life continue and that any move to force her to return to Madhya Pradesh could result in an honour killing. It was also contended that Bhosle had not even been served with any order passed by the NCST.Bhosle's counsel further reasserted that she was 18 years and three months old at the time of her marriage, a fact that had been verified by a court in Madhya Pradesh. According to her, her original birth certificate, which contained proof of her age, was subsequently cancelled without her knowledge.This action is already under challenge before the Madhya Pradesh High Court.The Court observed that it was prima facie convinced that there was merit in the contentions raised on behalf of Bhosle.It, therefore, directed the authorities to continue providing protection to Bhosle and ordered that she must not be handed over to any person without orders from the Court..[Read Live Coverage]
