New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to grant protection to a Karnataka woman who alleged that she had been married off without her consent.

The woman, who is at present in Delhi and being assisted by Delhi Commission for Women, has also sought striking down of certain provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act on the grounds that the consent of the bride or the groom has not been made mandatory in the law.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud said it would treat this petition as a habeas corpus plea and would not deal with the constitutionality of certain provisions of the Act as sought by senior advocate Indira Jaising, who was representing the aggrieved woman.

The bench observed that Section 12 C of the Act provided for annulment of marriage if there is forced or fraudulent consent.

The court agreed with the contention that the identity of the woman and her family members, who had forced her into the marriage, not be revealed.

It directed the Superintendent of Police concerned to serve notice on the respondents and fixed the matter for further hearing on May 5.

During the hearing, Jaising said the woman had been forced into marriage and sought protection.