Prayagraj: Reaffirming that parents cannot dictate an adult’s choice of spouse, the Allahabad high court on Tuesday directed the release of a 26-year-old Ghaziabad woman from her father’s custody and permitted her to live with her husband.Justice Sandeep Jain ordered that the woman, who had entered an interfaith marriage, be allowed to live with her husband, ending months-long ordeal that began when the woman’s father accused her husband of abduction.Justice Jain passed the order on a habeas corpus petition after the state produced the woman before the court on Tuesday, in compliance with an earlier direction on Sept 8.The court interacted with the woman, who said that she was 26 years’ old and had voluntarily entered matrimonial alliance. She alleged that her father had confined her to her home and said that she wanted to live with her husband.Her husband also expressed his willingness to live with her.When the court interacted with the woman’s father, he maintained that her daughter was giving the statement under pressure and she was voluntarily living with her family.After interacting with all those concerned, the court said that it was well settled that a person who had attained majority was entitled to choose his or her life partner.“Such a choice is personal to the individual concerned and cannot be dictated or controlled by the wishes of her parents or other family members,” the court said.The court added that the woman was at liberty to live with her life partner and directed the police to ensure adequate security to the couple. The court also directed the family members not to interfere in the woman’s matrimonial life.
