Punjab and Haryana High Court: Arun Monga, J., addressed a matter wherein, two girls were in a live-in relationship and were constantly receiving serious threats from their families, due to which they prayed for protection.
Petitioners sought directions to the official respondents to protect their life and liberty as they apprehended threat at the hands of private respondents 4 to 10.
Both the petitioners are girls and they are both major having mutual liking for each other. They both have been in live-in relationship for the past 6 months.
Petitioners counsel further contends that their relationship is not in the nature of marriage as they belong to same sex. They have been receiving serious threats from their family members.
Bench noted from the contents of the petition that both the petitioners have prompted to file the instant petition thinking that live in relationship between the same sex as a couple is not a criminality.
Social ethos, outlook and the philosophy appears to be evolving amongst gay couples so as to gather courage and openly come out of their closets, even though gay marriage is not yet legitimate as per the applicable marriage laws in the country. And, therefore, the live in relationships.
Court added that, What is perhaps coming in the way of petitioners is the social unacceptability of their relationship by their parents/family members, owing to which they are living under constant fear for the reasons stated in the petition which are not being repeated for the sake of privacy and brevity.
Petitioners are entitled to protection of their lives as envisaged under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, regardless of the relationship between them.
Legitimacy of their relationship with each other, is of no consequence viz-a-viz their right to life and liberty.
Court without commenting on the legality of the relationship between the petitioners or otherwise, directed the Senior Superintendent of police, Mohali to take necessary steps to grant protection of life and liberty to the petitioners. [Paramjit Kaur v. State of Punjab, 2020 SCC OnLine P&H 994 , decided on 20-07-2020]
