Rajasthan: The Rajasthan High Court has issued a significant order directing the police to consider providing protection to a couple living in a live-in relationship outside of their respective marriages.
The court of Justice Arun Monga disposed of a petition seeking protection for the couple from threats by their family members.
The court noted that the petitioners, Maya and Pappuram, are both married to other individuals and have children from those marriages. However, they are now living together in what they term a “live-in relationship” without having obtained divorces from their spouses. They approached the court seeking protection from threats by their relatives.
Justice Monga referred to his previous judgment in the Punjab and Haryana High Court case of Kanti and another Vs. State of Haryana & Ors., where he had discussed the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution in a similar context. The court held that “the key issue at hand is not the legality of the petitioners’ relationship, for which they may be liable for civil as well as criminal consequences in accordance with law, but whether they are entitled to protection of their fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution.”
In conclusion, the court, without commenting on the legality of the relationship between the petitioners or expressing any opinion on the merits of their apprehensions, dismissed the petition and directed the Superintendents of Police of Churu and Jhunjhunu districts to verify the threat perception to the petitioners and provide necessary protection to their life and liberty if deemed fit.
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