Inter-religious live-in relationships are not a crime under the law, Allahabad High Court's important decision:Inter-religious live-in relationships are not legally prohibited.

News Topical, Digital Desk : The Allahabad High Court has given top priority to personal liberty and the fundamental right to life, stating that protection of interfaith couples is essential. A bench of Justice Vivek Kumar Singh made this observation while accepting the petition of Sonbhadra residents Kajal Prajapati and Firoz Ahmed.

The bench also clarified that interfaith live-in relationships are not prohibited or punishable under any law. It also directed police officials to provide immediate protection if the petitioners suffer any harm. It also clarified that if anyone attempts to convert them against their will or fraudulently, the petitioners can file a complaint against them.

The court said that this order will not hinder any legal investigation or proceedings nor will it be considered a final decision regarding the age of the petitioners. The court said that if two adult persons decide to live together of their own free will, then neither the family nor the society nor the state has the right to interfere in their personal life.

Article 21 of the Indian Constitution guarantees every citizen the fundamental right to live with a partner of their choice and to lead a life of dignity, which cannot be interfered with. The facts of the case are that the petitioners are in an interfaith live-in relationship. They pleaded for protection, citing threats to their lives from their families.

When the police ignored his complaint, he approached the High Court. During the hearing, the court cited Supreme Court decisions in cases such as Lata Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh and Shafin Jahan v. Ashokan KM.

The court stated that discrimination on the basis of caste or religion is against constitutional values. The court noted that the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, also does not prohibit interfaith relationships or marriages unless there is an element of forced conversion (conversion).