Eager to fulfill her daughter’s dream of joining an electronics engineering course, a Muslim woman from rural Tamil Nadu has sought judicial help to defy her conservative husband’s decision not to send the girl for further studies.

Rubinisha, 16-year-old daughter of Nawabjan and Fathima Jegara, had cleared Plus-II with high marks and wanted to join electronics and communication engineering. However, the conservative Nawabjan refused permission to send her away from home even for studies. Finally, after intense persuasion from his wife, Nawabjan ceded to admit her to an arts and science college—run by his friend—for pursuing BSc Maths. But the situation changed when Rubinisha secured a seat under Government quota at an engineering college in Pudukkottai district.

Nawabjan again refused to give permission to her to join the professional college saying it was away from home. He also instructed the college authorities not to release the original certificates that Rubinisha had submitted at the time of admission. The provisional admission granted to her in the engineering college had clearly stipulated that she should submit all her certificates in original by August 18.

Following this, Fathima approached the Madurai Bench of the Madras HC, asking the court to direct college authorities to release the certificates. In her complaint, Fathima said her husband was adamant against their daughter going away from home for education, and was thus standing against the young girl’s dream. The college authorities also refused to consider their pleas though she gave a written affidavit stating the same. Acting on the mother’s petition, Justice K Chandru directed Seethalakshmi Aachi College to return all certificates.