Maharashtra govt issues SOP to protect inter-faith and inter-caste couples 

Maharashtra government issues GR for safe housing and protection of inter-faith and inter-caste couples, following court petition.

In response to a petition in the Bombay High Court on the safety of married and unmarried inter-faith and inter-caste couples in Maharashtra and also the increasing cases of attacks on the couples, the Home department of the Maharashtra government has issued Government Resolution (GR) on May 13, 2025, notifying a nine-point standard operating procedure (SOP) for safe housing and protection of inter-faith and inter-caste couples.  

Senior advocate Mihir Desai, along with advocates Lara Jesani and Rishika Agarwal for the petitioners had pressed for implementation of Supreme Court’s 2018 Shakti Vahini guidelines which provides safe house and protection to the couple, but these guidelines were not implemented in Maharashtra.   

On October 27, 2023, the Bombay High Court had directed the State Government to consider issuing a GR. On April 29, 2025, the Bombay High Court received a draft of the GR that said the State government would be dealing with safe house for inter-faith and inter-caste couples, both married and unmarried.

“We have gone through the said draft GR. Learned counsel for the Petitioner has also gone through the same. Since it covers almost every aspect, it is open for the State Government to issue GR in terms of the said draft GR within two weeks from today,” the court said. 

The GR says that a special district-level cell, led by the superintendent of police or commissioner as chairman of the cell in which district social welfare officer will be a member and district women and child development officer will be a member secretary. The cell shall take due cognizance of all types of complaints from the couples and shall take immediate action to protect them. The cell will be equipped to provide security and a safe house for couples in danger. The SOP encompasses a helpline, FIR registration procedures, free legal assistance, a district review committee, and mandated reporting to the government. 

The cell will ensure the couples are not minors before proceeding with investigations upon complaints. If they are adults and need a safe house, it should be provided to them at a low cost initially for a month and if the cell finds potential danger to the couple, the stay can extend to six months with a security guard and police protection upon request. The district collector of the region will coordinate the safe house arrangements, which may include government guest houses or rented private residences, funded by the social justice department. 

Couples must submit a self-declaration of voluntary marriage and age verification. If the police finds that either of the couple is a minor, they should check whether he or she has voluntarily joined each other or whether a case of missing or kidnapping or adoption has been registered against the minor. If the minors are involved, the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) will be notified for protection. Complaints can be made confidentially via helpline 112, with immediate police response guaranteed for threats to life. If the minor is above 16 but below 18 years, his or her views shall be taken into consideration. Additionally, quarterly reports will be submitted to the state government by the director-general of police.