The Allahabad High Court has directed police protection for an interfaith live-in couple, following a plea filed by their minor daughter alleging threats from the woman's former in-laws.

While hearing the matter, the court emphasized that adults have the right to cohabit without being married, referencing Supreme Court precedents upholding individual autonomy.

The case was heard by a division bench comprising Justice Shekhar B. Saraf and Justice Vipin Chandra Dixit.

The bench noted that the child's biological parents, belonging to different faiths, have been living together since 2018. The couple reportedly began their relationship after the death of the woman’s husband.

The court took cognizance of the couple’s concerns regarding threats allegedly issued by the woman’s former in-laws.

They also alleged police inaction, claiming that authorities in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district had refused to register their complaints and had even subjected them to humiliation when they visited the local police station.

In response, the bench directed the Superintendent of Police, Sambhal, to ensure that a First Information Report (FIR) is registered should the couple approach the police. Furthermore, the SP was instructed to assess whether the couple and their child require security, and to act accordingly in compliance with the law.

The court's directions underscore the need to uphold constitutional protections for consenting adults, regardless of their marital status or religious background.