In a recent judgment, the Allahabad High Court stated that two consenting adults can live in a live-in relationship, and such a relationship does not fall under the category of an offense.
However, the court also mentioned that if either of the two individuals is a minor, the live-in relationship would not be considered valid, and protection can’t be granted to the couple.
The court emphasized that providing protection in such cases would go against the law & society.
The bench comprising of Justices V.K. Bhardwaj and Justice Rajendra Kumar stated that, a live-in relationship with a minor, whether by a male or a female, would be considered an offense under the Child Protection Act. Whether the allegation of abduction against an adult woman by a minor male is a crime or not will be determined through examination.
Merely being in a live-in relationship doesn’t entitle one to relief. The case is not a fit one for interference under Article 226. The court dismissed the petition on these grounds.
The court’s decision was in response to the plea filed by Saloni Yadav and Ali Abbas, where the petitioners claimed that Saloni Yadav is 19 years old, and she left her home on her own will to live with Ali Abbas in a live-in relationship. They sought the quashing of the abduction case and a stay on their arrest.
However, the court refused to grant relief on the grounds that one of the parties involved is a minor, and allowing such permissions would encourage illegal activities.
