In a relief to Hadiya, who was claimed by her parents and others to be a victim of so-called ‘love jihad’, the Supreme Court on Thursday set aside the high court order annulling her marriage to Shafin Jahan.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, however, said that the National Investigation Agency may continue its investigation in the matter, if there was any criminal angle to the case. The apex court had in August last year asked the NIA to probe the case of conversion and marriage of Hadiya, as the agency claimed a "pattern" was emerging in Kerala.

The matter came to the fore when Shafin Jahan, Hadiya's husband, had challenged a Kerala High Court order annulling their marriage and sending the adult woman to her parents' custody.

On November 27 last year, the apex court had freed Hadiya from her parents' custody and sent her to college to pursue her studies, even as she had pleaded that she should be allowed to be with her husband.

The decision was welcomed by senior lawyers and commentators. Many hailed the judgment, saying it was an apt decision to come on International Women’s Day.