Adults have right to choose their matrimonial partner irrespective of religion: Allahabad High Court

Two adults have a right to choose their matrimonial partner irrespective of their religion, the Allahabad High Court has reaffirmed while granting protection to an inter-faith couple..A Division Bench comprising of Justices Manoj Kumar Gupta and Deepak Verma, granted protection to the inter-faith couple and said that not even their parents can object to their relationship."It cannot be disputed that two adults have right of choice of their matrimonial partner irrespective of religious professed by them....As the present petition is a joint petition by the two individuals who claims to be in love with each other and are major, therefore, in our considered opinion, nobody, not even their parents, could object to their relationship," the Court said.The Court, therefore, directed the police authorities to ensure that the petitioners are not subjected to any harassment by respondent no. 5 or by any other person in connection with their relationship with each other..The petition was moved by one Shifa Hasan and her partner contending that they are in love with each other and are living together on their own will. It was also stated that they belong to different religions, Hasan being a Muslim while her partner a Hindu.Hasan submitted that she had also filed an application for conversion from Muslim to Hindu religion. On the said application, the District Magistrate had called for a report from concerned police station. As per the report, the boy's father is not agreeable to the marriage though his mother is ready for the same. Both parents of Hasan are opposed to the marriage.In view of the same, the couple approached the High Court claiming that there is a threat to their lives.The Court took note of the fact that both the petitioners are major aged 19 and 24 years..The Court proceeded to grant them protection while clarifying that the order is not any final opinion regarding the age of the petitioners as the findings are only prima facie in nature for the purposes of deciding the issue regarding protection of life of the petitioners..[Read Order]