New Delhi, 20 August (H.S.): The Delhi High Court has observed that a consensual live-in relationship between adults is akin to marriage and that neither parents nor friends can interfere with their choice or threaten their lives. A bench headed by Justice Saurabh Banerjee provided police protection to a live-in couple who allegedly faced threats from the woman’s family.

The court observed that since the petitioners are adults and have chosen to live together voluntarily, they have every right to choose their partner and live with that person without interference from anyone.

The court further noted that the marriage of consenting adults is entitled to recognition irrespective of their caste, creed, colour, religion or faith. It said that restricting the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution on the basis of social morality and prejudice would effectively deprive an individual of the right to personal identity and autonomy.

The court observed that although the petitioners are in a live-in relationship and have not formally married under law, their relationship, given their adulthood and mutual consent to live together, is akin to marriage. The couple, both around 30 years of age, told the court that they had been living together for some time and also intended to marry.

The petitioners informed the court that the woman’s father and brother were opposed to their relationship and had allegedly been repeatedly threatening to kill them.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar