State counsel opposed the couples request for protection, arguing that the two belonged to different religious groups and that a live-in relationship is punishable under Muslim personal law as Zina (Adultery), which is against the law.The Allahabad high court has ruled that an interfaith couple has the liberty to live together, ordering that “no person, including their parents or anyone acting on their behalf, shall be permitted to interfere in their peaceful live-in relationship”.The bench of justice Surendra Singh stated that in any case where a couples peaceful life is disturbed, they must approach the Superintendent of Police with a copy of the courts order for immediate protection.The single judge bench cited Supreme Court rulings and said, “It is clear that a boy or girl, who has attained majority, is free to marry or live with a person of his or her choice and no one, including his or her parents or anyone on their behalf, can interfere in their right to freedom of choosing a partner, which emanates from the Right to Life and Personal Liberty guaranteed under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India.”Kiran Rawat and another vs. State of UPThe court refused the argument by the state council that a division bench decision of the high court in Kiran Rawat and another vs. State of UP (2023) had refused to provide protection to couples living together in a live-in relationship.The court clarified that a review of the judgment in that case revealed that the court had not held that the couple living in a live-in relationship was not entitled to the protection of the court. Rather, it was because of the special circumstances of that case that the court denied protection to the couple. An interfaith couple asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order to the private respondent, telling them not to interfere with their peaceful lives. The court granted their request.
