Adult couples can live-in with person of their choice: Allahabad High Court

 PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad High Court has held that a boy or girl who has become major is free to marry or live with a person of his or her choice, and no one, including his or her parents or anyone on their behalf, can interfere in their right to freedom of choosing a partner, which emanates from their right to life and personal liberty, guaranteed under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India.

Disposing of a joint petition filed by an inter-religious live-in couple, Justice Surendra Singh-1 directed that in case any disturbance is caused in the peaceful living of the petitioners, the petitioners shall approach the superintendent of police concerned with a copy of this order, who shall provide immediate protection to the petitioners.

In the writ petition, a Muslim girl and her Hindu live-in partner sought a direction that their family members, who are private respondents in the petition, be directed not to interfere in the peaceful lives of the petitioners. Further, direction was also sought from the police authorities to provide protection to the petitioners.

It was submitted by the counsel for the petitioners that both petitioners were majors and were residing peacefully together out of their own free will in a live-in relationship. It was further submitted that the mother of the first petitioner, who is a Muslim girl, and her family members were averse to the parties' live-in relationship. She, along with other family members, was harassing and disturbing the peaceful lives of the petitioners.

She had threatened the petitioners with dire consequences.

The petitioners have apprehensions of honour killing from her family members. Besides, the girl had made an application (dated August 4, 2023) to the commissioner of police, Gautam Buddha Nagar, seeking protection, but to no avail.

It was submitted on behalf of the petitioners that both petitioners intended to solemnise their marriage in the near future. It was also stated that, to date, no FIR had been lodged relating to their live-in relationship, and both petitioners were living happily together.

Appearing on behalf of the state government, the state counsel opposed the petition and submitted that both petitioners belong to different religious groups.

"Living in a live-in relationship is punishable as 'zina' (adultery) in Muslim personal law," he submitted.

The state counsel also placed reliance upon a division bench decision of this court in Kiran Rawat and another vs. State of UP, 2023 Lawsuit (All) 953, and submitted that the court has refused to provide protection to couples residing together in a live-in relationship.

However, while passing the above directives, the court said, "From perusal of the judgement of this court in Kiran Rawat case, it is apparent that the court has not held that couples residing in a live-in relationship are not entitled to protection of the court, but it is due to the special circumstances of that case before the court that the court has denied protection to the couple staying in a live-in relationship." (IANS)

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