Grown-ups choosing to live together not an offence: Court on interfaith couples
India Today
In a big remark, the Allahabad High Court has said that the UP anti-conversion law cannot bar interfaith couples from living together peacefully and out of their free will and choice. It said that the courts do not see them as Hindus and Muslims but as two grown-up individuals.
An interfaith couple are two grown-up individuals, who out of their free will, decide to live together, and the Uttar Pradesh anti-conversion law, cannot bar them nor prohibit interfaith marriages, the Allahabad High Court said on Monday in a big remark.
Justice Vivek Kumar Singh made the statement while hearing multiple petitions on interfaith live-in relationships. He said that choosing to live with a person, regardless of their religion, is a constitutional right.
The right to live with a person of his/her choice, irrespective of the religion professed by them, is intrinsic to the right to life and personal liberty. Interference in a personal relationship, would constitute a serious encroachment into the right to freedom of choice of the two individuals," the order said.
Justice Singh said that in the case of an interfaith couple living together, the courts do not see them as Hindu and Muslim, but as two grown-ups, acting as per their free will and choice.
"This court fails to understand that if the law permits two persons even of the same sex to live together peacefully, then neither any individual nor a family nor even the state can have an objection to the heterosexual relationship of two major individuals who out of their own free will, are living together," he added.
He allowed a writ petition by 12 petitioners and granted relief to the interfaith couples that they are at liberty to approach the police for redressal of their grievances. After receiving such complaints, the police are to examine the matter and age of the petitioners. Upon finding any substance in the allegations, the police will act in compliance with the law for the protection of life, limb and liberty of the petitioners, the court ordered.
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