Giving protection to married woman & live-in partner may indirectly give assent to illicit relations, says Rajasthan HC

Read order: Maya Devi vs. State of Rajasthan

LE Staff

Jaipur, August 19, 2021: The Jaipur bench of the Rajasthan High Court has refused to grant police protection to a live-in couple as the woman was already married to another person. 

While quoting the settled legal position as expounded by the Division Bench of Allahabad High Court in Smt. Aneeta & Anr vs. State of U.P. & Ors [Writ C.No.14443/2021], a Bench of Justice Satish Kumar Sharma observed that live-in relationship cannot be at the cost of the social fabric of the country. 

The observation came pursuant to a petition seeking protection of life and personal liberty. 

The counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioner is a married lady but she has been compelled to leave her matrimonial house. 

It was further submitted that at present, she is living with another man (petitioner No.2), due to which the private respondents and others were not happy with their relation and they were threatening the petitioners. 

After considering the plea, Justice Sharma concluded that directing the police to grant protection to the couple may indirectly give assent to such illicit relations.

The High Court, however, said that in case any offence is committed with the petitioners, then they are at liberty to lodge FIR in concerned police station or may take available legal recourse.