No moral policing if adult staying together willingly in marriage, live-in: HC

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has held that no moral policing can be allowed if two adults are willing to stay together by way of marriage or a livein relationshipJustice Nandita Dubey made the observation on January 28 while disposing of a habeas corpus petition filed by Jabalpur resident Guljar Khan who stated that he had married Arti Sahu 19 in Maharashtra and she had willingly converted to IslamKhan had alleged in his plea that Sahu was forcibly taken away by her parents to Varanasi and illegally detainedSahu was produced before the court on January 28 through videoconferencing from the Advocate Generals officeThe HC noted that the state has raised an objection in view of provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act 2021It is vehemently argued by the governments counsel that any marriage performed in contravention of Section 3 of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act of 2021 shall be deemed null and void where no person shall convert for the purpose of marriage and any conversion in contravention the court further notedThe HC in its order said No moral policing can be allowed in such matters where the two major persons are willing to stay together whether by way of marriage or in a livein relationship when the party to that arrangement is doing it willingly and not forced into itThe high court noted that the woman clearly stated that she had married the petitioner and wants to stay with him She is a major person and her age is not disputed by any of the parties the court saidThe Constitution gives a right to every major citizen of this country to live her or his life as per her or his own wishes the HC observedUnder the circumstances the objection raised by the counsel for the state and her prayer to send the corpus Sahu to Nari Niketan is rejected the court said in its orderIt also directed the counsel for the state and police authorities to hand over the woman to her husband and to see that both of them reach their home safelyThe police authorities are also directed to see that in future also the woman and her husband are not threatened by her parents the court saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever