The Allahabad High Court has said that live-in relationships have become an integral part of life. It needs to be viewed from the perspective of individual autonomy rather than notions of social morality.
Disposing of two separate petitions filed by inter-religious live-in couples, a division bench of Justices Pritinkar Diwakar and Ashutosh Srivastava observed that live-in relationships have also been approved by the Supreme Court. It should be viewed from the point of view of individual autonomy.
Two girls had filed petitions
The High Court said that it is part of the right to life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. Both the couples had filed separate petitions alleging that the girls’ families were interfering in their daily lives.
One petition was filed on behalf of Kushinagar resident Shayra Khatoon and her accomplice, and the other by Meerut-based Zeenat Parveen and her accomplice. Both the couples live in live-in relationship.
‘Police should protect rights’
The police refused to help him, after which he filed a petition in the High Court. The court underlined that the right to life enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution must be protected at all costs and said that the police is bound to protect the rights of the petitioners.
The court in its order directed that the petitioner is in a position to approach the police with a complaint of threat to life and liberty. The police will perform its duties under the law.
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