The Bombay High Court ruled that an adult woman has the right to make her own life choices, even if her family disagrees. The court granted protection to a pregnant woman who wished to marry her partner despite family threats.
The Bombay High Court instructed the police to ensure the safety of a 31-year-old pregnant woman from a minority community, who left her home to marry her partner due to threats from her family.
Justices Sarang Kotwal and Shyam Chandak stated that, as an adult, the woman has the right to make her own choices, despite her family’s disapproval of her relationship.
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In a ruling issued last week, the court dismissed the habeas corpus petition filed by the woman’s father, who claimed she had been missing since April. The woman, currently living with her partner outside Maharashtra, appeared before the court earlier this month.
She informed the court that she had left home voluntarily because her family was obstructing her relationship. Now three months pregnant, she expressed her desire to marry her partner and establish their life together.
The court remarked,
“She is an adult and is free to make her own decisions. In this situation, nothing survives in the petition,”
Recognizing the woman’s fears of potential threats from her family, the court emphasized the need for her protection.
The High Court directed the Vakola police station in Mumbai to coordinate with the local police in the area where she is currently residing to ensure her safety.
Previously, the woman’s father had filed a missing person report with the Vakola police in April. Following a preliminary investigation, the police discovered that she was living outside Maharashtra with her partner.
The woman expressed concerns about their safety due to her parents’ and relatives’ opposition to their relationship.