Married woman in live-in relationship: HC grants protection against husband and mother-in-law

Read Judgement: Swaran Rani and another v. State of Punjab and others 

Vivek Gupta

Chandigarh, July 5, 2021: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted protection to a married woman who is in a live-in relationship with her new partner and fears a threat to her life from her husband, mother-in-law as well as her paternal uncles and cousin brothers.

The woman, who hails from Punjab’s Fazilka town, filed a petition along with her new male partner to seek direction to the local police to protect their lives and liberty as they apprehend threat to the same at the hands of her in-laws as well as her paternal family members.

Representing the Punjab government, Samina Dhir, Deputy Advocate General, Punjab, found no objection to the petition or their relationship. 

Hearing the matter, the court of Justice Meenakshi Mehta directed the Senior Superintendent of Police, Fazilka, Punjab, to look into the said representation of the petitioners. “If it is found that the petitioners genuinely deserve any protection, then to take appropriate action in accordance with law,” the Judge directed.

The Judge stated that she was keeping in view the intent of the fundamental right enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution, which ensures the protection of life and liberty to the citizens, and the limited prayer as made by the petitioners and without commenting or expressing any opinion on the validity and legality of the relationship between the petitioners

“It is further clarified that this order shall not be construed to be a shield to the petitioners against any proceedings already initiated or intended/contemplated to be initiated by the competent authority/person on account of their said relationship and permissible under any relevant provisions of law. This petition stands disposed of accordingly,” the court further stated.