Allahabad High Court Rebukes UP Police Over Interference in Consenting Adults' Marriage
The Allahabad High Court quashed a criminal case against a married couple, citing a violation of fundamental liberties. Justices imposed financial penalties on both police officers and the woman's father for harassing the pair.
Judicial Censure of Law Enforcement Interference
In a sharp rebuke of state overreach, a Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court ruled that police authorities lack the jurisdiction to scrutinize the domestic lives of consenting adults. Justices J.J. Munir and Tarun Saxena quashed a First Information Report (FIR) filed under Section 87 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, characterizing the ongoing investigation as a blatant abuse of the criminal justice system. The court stated that the police have no mandate to act as "nosy parkers" in the private affairs of citizens who have attained the age of majority.
Article 21 and the Liberty to Choose
The legal dispute originated after a couple married in February 2026. Following their union, the woman's father filed a complaint alleging his daughter had been enticed into the marriage. Despite the woman's clear testimony that she entered the marriage of her own volition, police continued their probe, which the petitioners argued was an unlawful attempt to separate them. The court affirmed that such actions constitute a gross violation of Article 21 of the Constitution.
Key points from the bench's ruling include:
- Individual liberty for adults encompasses the right to marry a partner of one’s own choice.
- Law enforcement must focus on actual criminal activity rather than interrogating legal unions.
- The court identified a clear bias where police appeared to side with the complainant's family interests over legal principles.
Financial Penalties for Harassment
To discourage future interference, the High Court imposed specific costs on the involved parties. The Superintendent of Police and the Station House Officer were ordered to jointly pay ₹1,000 to the woman. Additionally, the court directed the woman’s father to pay ₹5,000 for initiation of the meritless complaint. The bench emphasized that the function of the police is to investigate crimes, and a marriage between consenting adults does not constitute a criminal act requiring state intervention.
Source: The Hindu — National
