Kochi: The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, ordered police protection for Ryhana R. Kazi, 22, from Kasaragod who complained of receiving threats to her life for not wearing the purdah and head scarf.

A Division Bench, comprising Justice K.M. Joseph and Justice M.L. Joseph Francis, directed the Superintendent of Police, the Circle Inspector and the Sub-Inspector, Kasaragod, to provide protection to her parents and siblings also. The orders will remain in force for three weeks.

The woman said in a writ petition that her neighbours and distant relatives had been insisting that she wear the purdaha and the scarf on her return from Chennai after graduating in aeronautical engineering. She had been resisting the intrusion into her personal freedom.
She said that she had received threatening calls from persons claiming to be Popular Front of India (PFI) activists after her plight was published in the media. She received a threatening letter from one of her neighbours, Mohammed Kavungoli. The neighbours had started levelling false allegations against her.

Though she had lodged a complaint with the police, no action had been taken. She had lodged a complaint with the State Women's Commission also.

The petitioner said that if she was not granted police protection to prevent “the illegal intervention in the name of religion” to place restrictions on her personal freedom, it would cause prejudice and hardship to her and her family.

The denial of her right to wear what she liked amounted to violation of personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

She pleaded that the police officers concerned be directed to provide sufficient and adequate protection.

The Bench issued urgent notice to Mohammed Kavungoli and posted the case for further hearing on August 18.