Consenting adults free to live together sans interference: Allahabad HC

PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad HC has observed that adult live-in couples are free to live together without interference from anybody, even their parents. The court directed the police to provide full protection to a couple who had approached it against harassment by the girl’s family members.
Allowing a writ petition filed by Farrukhabad’s Kamini Devi and Ajay Kumar, a division bench comprising Justices Anjani Kumar Mishra and Prakash Padia observed, “The SC in a long line of decisions has settled the law that where a boy and girl are majors and they are living with their free will, then nobody — including their parents — has the authority to interfere.”
“As the right to live is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, in which it is provided that no person shall be deprived of his right to life and personal liberty,” the court observed.The court said that in case of any disturbance, the petitioners should approach the SSP with a self-attested copy of this order.
Petitioner Kamini Devi (24) and Ajay Kumar (28) fell in love around one year ago. They alleged that the family of Kamini Devi were forcibly trying to solemnise her marriage with an older person against her wishes.