Lesbian couple have a right to live their lives, Delhi HC ensures police protection

Upholding the rights of two lesbian partners, the Delhi High Court recently directed the Delhi Police to provide requisite protection to the couple, who were in a live-in relationship..Fearing the wrath of their parents, who did not approve of their cohabitation, the petitioners moved the High Court seeking police protection..A Single Judge Bench of Justice Nazmi Waziri held that the petitioners are legal adults and live together of their own free choice, and that they “have a right to live their lives in terms of the constitutional freedom recognized and reiterated by the Supreme Court”..The petitioners informed the Court that not only did the police deny protection to them, but a sub-inspector had also threatened to file a case against one of the partners, if they failed to disclose their location..Hearing the ordeal of the petitioners, the Delhi government represented by Standing Counsel Rahul Mehra assured the Court that the Petitioners would be given due protection..Additionally, the Court directed that the petitioners be provided with telephone numbers of three police officers from the jurisdiction of the concerned police station, of which one shall be the number of a lady police officer..“These numbers shall be kept operational at all times so that any exigency could be intimated on either of the numbers of the Petitioners.”, the Court stated..It further directed that,.“The Beat Constable/Division Staff of the area to regularly visit the residence of the Petitioners on a daily basis and report the same in the Roznamcha. The safety and security of the Petitioner shall be assessed by the SHO on a weekly basis with due endorsement of the same in the Roznamcha. The Beat Constable shall record entries in his Beat Book.”.The Court was also assured that the matter of threats against the couple by the Sub-Inspector would be investigated and appropriate action shall be taken against the said officer, if the allegation is found to be true..The petitioners were represented by Senior Advocate Anand Grover with Advocates Saurabh Chauhan, Varun Jain, Tripti Tondon, Aarushi Mahajan and Samyak Gangwal. .Read the order: