Allahabad High Court
PRIYANKA AND ANOTHERversusSTATE OF UTTAR PRADESH AND 4 OTHERS
- Decided
- Bench
- GAUTAM CHOWDHARY
Holding
Adult interfaith couples married under the Special Marriage Act are free to live together and the State must not interfere, with the police directed to provide protection upon request.
Summary
The petitioners, two adult individuals of different faiths, married under Section 5 of the Special Marriage Act and live together, alleging harassment and threats from a private respondent and family members. They filed a writ petition seeking a mandamus directing the respondents not to interfere with their peaceful life and to provide police protection. The State opposed the prayer, but the Court relied on the precedent set in Noori v. State of U.P. (2026 SCC OnLine All 456), which protected similar interfaith couples. The Court held that the petitioners are at liberty to live together and ordered the Commissionerate of Police, Agra, to provide immediate protection upon presentation of the order. It clarified that the order does not adjudicate the validity of the marriage and allowed a recall if any documents are found to be forged. Consequently, the writ petition was disposed without any cost order.
Issues considered
- Whether adult interfaith couples married under the Special Marriage Act have a right to live together without interference.
- Whether the court can issue a writ of mandamus directing the State and police to provide protection to such couples.
- Whether the validity of the marriage needs to be determined before granting protection.
Legislation cited
- Special Marriage Act — s. 5
Subjects
- interfaith marriage
- Special Marriage Act
- right to live together
- mandamus
- police protection
- harassment
Judgment
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
WRIT - C No. - 20710 of 2026
Priyanka And Another
.....Petitioner(s)
Versus
State Of Uttar Pradesh And 4 Others
.....Respondent(s)
Counsel for Petitioner(s) : Manoj Kumar Singh, Mashaluddin
Shah
Counsel for Respondent(s) : C.S.C.
Court No. - 75
HON'BLE DR. GAUTAM CHOWDHARY, J.
1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners, learned Standing Counsel for
the State-respondents and perused the material on record.
2. By means of the present writ petition, the petitioners have prayed for a
writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents not to interfere
in their peaceful life and also for a direction to provide protection.
3. It is stated by the learned counsel for the petitioners that though both
the petitioners are major but they are of different faiths. They have
solemnized marriage out of their own free will and consent without any
coercion, since they are adults and are living together as married couple.
Further, it is stated that private respondent and other family members
have got annoyed and there is serious danger to their lives as they are
being threatened and harassed. In support of their age, the petitioner No.1
has brought on record her High School marksheet, whereas, petitioner No.
2 has brought on record his Adhar Card, and from perusal of the same, it
is evident that both the petitioners are major. It has further been stated that
both the petitioners have applied for marriage under Section 5 of Special
Marriage Act. The averments made in the petition are supported by the
joint affidavits of the petitioners.
4. Learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel opposes the prayer made
in the writ petition.
5. The issue involved in the present petition has already been dealt with in
Writ-C No. 41127 of 2025 (Noori and Another vs. State of U.P. and
others), reported in 2026 SCC OnLine All 456, wherein a coordinate
Bench of this Court, while allowing a bunch of writ petitions of similar
nature protected such petitioners having different faiths, and have
solemnized marriage with each other on their own free will and choice.
Further, the facts of the present case are similar to the facts of Noori
(supra), therefore, the present writ petition is being disposed of in the
WRIC No. 20710 of 2026
2
following terms.
6. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is
of the opinion that the petitioners are at liberty to live together and no
person shall be permitted to interfere in their peaceful living. In case any
disturbance is caused in the peaceful living of the petitioners, the
petitioners shall approach the concerned Commissionerate of Police,
Agra, respondent no. 2 along with a certified copy of this order who shall
provide immediate protection to the petitioners.
7. A liberty is granted to the private respondent that if the documents
brought on the record are fabricated or forged, it will be open to him/her
to file a recall application for recall of this order.
8. It is made clear that this Court has not adjudicated upon the alleged
marriage of the petitioners and this order in no way expresses opinion
about the validity of their marriage.
9. With the aforesaid observations, the writ petition is accordingly
disposed of.
10. No order as to costs.
(Dr. Gautam Chowdhary,J.)
September 8, 2026
Mustaqeem.
Digitally signed by :-
MOHD MUSTAQEEM KHAN
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
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