Parents can't interfere in children's right to choose partners, live-in relationship: HC
PTC News Desk: Allahabad High Court has ruled that an interfaith couple is free to live together, stating that “no person, including their parents or anyone acting on their behalf, shall be permitted to interfere in their peaceful live-in relationship”.
The bench of Justice Surendra Singh stated that if the couple's peaceful life is disturbed, they must approach the Superintendent of Police in charge with a copy of the high court's decision for immediate protection.
"It is clear that a boy or girl, who has attained majority, is free to marry or live with a person of his/her choice and no one including his/her parents or anyone on their behalf can interfere in their right to freedom of choosing a partner which emanates from Right to Life and Personal Liberty guaranteed under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India," the single judge bench stated referring to Supreme Court rulings.
The court also rejected the state counsel's claim that a high court division bench ruling in Kiran Rawat and others vs. the State of UP (2023) declined to extend protection to couples living together in a live-in relationship.
The court stated that a perusal of the judgment in that case revealed that the court had not ruled that the couple existing in a live-in relationship was not entitled to court protection. Rather, the court denied the couple's protection due to the special circumstances of that case.
The order was passed in response to a plea filed by an interfaith couple seeking a mandamus order directing the private respondent not to interfere with their peaceful living.
The petitioner's attorney claimed that both petitioners were adults who were living together peacefully of their own free will in a live-in relationship.
The lawyer informed the court that the girl's mother and her family members were opposed to the petitioners' live-in relationship and were harassing and disturbing them.
According to the counsel, the girl's mother had threatened the couple with dire consequences, thus they were afraid of honour killing from her family members.
- With inputs from agencies
