The Allahabad High Court has clarified, in matters relating to protection of couples who have solemnised marriage of their own free will, that adult spouses who have entered into a valid marriage have every right to live together and lead a peaceful married life, and no person can be permitted to interfere in their lives.
The Court observed that if any disturbance is caused to their peaceful life, the concerned police authorities may take necessary action.
The order was passed by the single-judge bench of Justice Kunal Ravi Singh while disposing of a petition filed by Smt. Lovely and her husband.
The Court further directed that the marriage must be registered within two months in accordance with the provisions of U.P. Marriage Registration Rules, 2017, failing which the protective relief granted by the Court shall automatically cease to operate.
Counsel for the petitioners informed the Court that the wife is 23 years old and the husband is 28 years old, and both are majors.
They had solemnised their marriage at Arya Samaj Temple situated at George Town, Prayagraj. However, apprehending harassment and interference from the private respondents, they approached the Court seeking protection.
Dealing with a case of harassment by the parents of the boy and girl, who had entered into inter-caste marriage, the Court referred to the directions issued by the Supreme Court in Lata Singh v. State of U.P. 2006 Cr.L.J. 3309 and observed:
“This is a free and democratic country, and once a person becomes a major he or she can marry whosoever he/she likes. If the parents of the boy or girl do not approve of such inter-caste or inter-religious marriage the maximum they can do is that they can cut off social relations with the son or the daughter, but they cannot give threats or commit or instigate acts of violence and cannot harass the person who undergoes such inter- caste or inter- religious marriage. We, therefore, direct that the administration/police authorities throughout the country will see to it that if any boy or girl who is a major undergoes inter-caste or inter-religious marriage with a woman or man who is a major, the couple are notharassed by any one nor subjected to threats or acts of violence, and any one who gives such threats or harasses or commits acts of violence either himself or at his instigation, is taken to task by instituting criminal proceedings by the police against such persons and further stern action is taken against such persons as provided by law.”
Besides this, the Court also referred to the Supreme Court’s decision in Bhagwan Das and reiterated that adult individuals are free to marry a person of their choice.
It observed that so-called “honour killings” are a blot on a civilised society and constitute crimes falling in the category of the rarest and gravest offences.
During the hearing, the State counsel submitted that the directions issued by the Supreme Court in such matters are already being implemented in Uttar Pradesh and that no additional directions are required merely on the basis of apprehensions.
Accordingly, while permitting the petitioners to reside together freely, the Court observed that in case any obstruction is caused to their peaceful life, they may place a copy of the order before the concerned Senior Superintendent of Police or Superintendent of Police, who shall examine the matter and take appropriate steps in accordance with law.
The Court also clarified that it had not adjudicated upon the validity of the marriage, the authenticity of the marriage certificate, or the age of the petitioners through the present order.
Further, if the order has been obtained by suppressing material facts, the aggrieved party shall be at liberty to seek recall of the order.
Case: Smt Lovely and Another vs State of U.P. and 3 Others
Case No: Writ – C No. – 23516 of 2026
Date of Order: 17.06.2026
Status: Allowed
