In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court has affirmed the rights of unmarried adult parents to live together, following a petition filed concerning an interfaith couple facing societal threats. The couple, not legally married but parents to a young child, sought legal aid against harassment from family members.
The case was brought to the court’s attention through a writ petition filed on behalf of their one-year-old daughter, overseen by Justices Shekhar B Saraf and Vipin Chandra Dixit. The justices stated, “Under our Constitutional framework, adults are entitled to live together without the bonds of marriage, respecting their personal freedoms.”
The court’s observation comes in response to the couple’s ordeal with the woman’s former in-laws, who have been reportedly threatening them following the death of her first husband. The couple reported that local police had been dismissive of their concerns, failing to register their complaints and subjecting them to humiliation.
Reacting to the oversight by law enforcement, the court has instructed the Superintendent of Police, Sambhal, to ensure the registration of an FIR should the couple decide to formally approach the police station again. Furthermore, the court directed a review of the couple’s security needs, emphasizing the state’s role in protecting its citizens’ constitutional rights.
