The Uttarakhand High Court has ordered the immediate release of a 23-year-old woman who was allegedly detained by her uncle for two months to prevent her from marrying her preferred partner.
In its ruling, the division bench of Justice Ravindra Maithani and Justice Siddhartha Sah emphasized that an adult woman has full autonomy over her life and cannot be held against her will or forced into an unwanted marriage. The court also directed local authorities to provide adequate security to both the woman and her partner, following her statements regarding threats to their lives from her family.
Allegations Of Confinement And Abuse
The ruling followed a petition filed on behalf of the woman, a 2023 science graduate who completed her studies in Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology. During her interaction with the court, she testified that she had been held captive by her uncle and his wife for two months. She asserted that they had physically assaulted her and threatened to kill both her and her partner, a self-employed driver, if they went ahead with the marriage.
Following these allegations, a female police constable conducted a private examination of the woman and confirmed the presence of older injury marks on her body. Consequently, the bench ordered a formal medical examination, directing that the official medical report be submitted to the court through state counsel.
Defense Denies Assault Charges
Representing the uncle, advocate Vivek Verma argued that the family had raised the woman for over two decades and was acting solely in her best interest. While Verma admitted the woman’s age, he denied all allegations of physical violence.
When questioned by the court regarding the legality of detaining an adult, Verma stated that the family would allow the woman to marry according to her wishes.
The woman was represented by advocate Gaurav Singh, while Additional Advocate General J. S. Virk appeared on behalf of the state.
