SOFIYA NAZ ANOTHERversusSTATE OF U.P. AND 3 OTHERS

         HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
                         WRIT - C No. - 39782 of 2026

Sofiya Naz Another
                                                              .....Petitioner(s)
                                    Versus

State Of U.P. And 3 Others
                                                            .....Respondent(s)

Counsel for Petitioner(s)                    :   Ram Shiromani Yadav
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 are
unmarried and are staying in a live-in relationship. 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.
Hence, the petitioners have filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the
Constitution of India for issuance of a direction upon the Police
Authorities to protect their life from the private respondents.
4. Learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel opposes the prayer made
in the writ petition and argues that a final report (FR) has been submitted
in the case registered in connection with this matter.
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, who were staying
in a live in relationship on their own free will and choice. Further, the
facts of the present case are similar to the facts of Noori and another
(supra), therefore, the present writ petition is being disposed of in the
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                               2

following terms.
6. Once an individual, who is a major, has chosen his/her partner, it is not
for any other person, be it a family member, to object and cause a
hindrance to their peaceful existence. It is the bounden duty of the State,
as per the Constitutional obligations casted upon it, to protect the life and
liberty of every citizen. Right to human life is to be treated on much
higher pedestal, regardless of a citizen being minor or major, married or
unmarried. Mere fact that the petitioners have not solemnized marriage,
would not deprive them of their fundamental right as envisaged in the
Constitution of India being citizens of India. This Court has no hesitation
to hold that the Constitutional's fundamental right under Article 21 of the
Constitution of India stands on a much higher pedestal. Being sacrosanct,
under the Constitutional scheme it must be protected, regardless of the
solemnization of marriage or even the absence of any marriage between
the parties.
7. The petitioners herein, who are major, have taken a decision to reside
together without the sanctity of the marriage and it is not for the Courts to
judge them on their decision. If the petitioners herein have not committed
any offence, this Court sees no reason as to why their prayer for grant of
protection cannot be acceded to.
8. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is
of the view that the petitioners are at liberty to live together peacefully
and no person shall be permitted to interfere in their peaceful living. As
right to life is a fundamental life ensured under Article 21 of the
Constitution wherein it is provided that no person shall be deprived of his
right to life and personal liberty except according to procedure established
by law.
9. In case, any disturbance is caused in the peaceful living of the
petitioners, the petitioners shall approach the Commissioner of
Police/SSP/SP concerned with certified copy of this order and the Police
Officer after being satisfied that the petitioners are major and willingly
living together, will provide immediate protection to the petitioners. If the
petitioners are educated and they produce their educational certificates
and other certificates admissible under law, from which it is evident that
they have attained the majority and they are living with their free will
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                                                                   3

                                    then no Police Officer shall take any coercive action against them unless
                                    an F.I.R. is registered against them in respect of any offence whatsoever.
                                    If they do not have any documentary proof regarding age and they come
                                    from rural background and or illiterate/semi-literate, the Police Officer
                                    can subject such boy or girl to ossification test to verify their correct age
                                    and he can also follow the other procedure permissible under the law.
                                    10. With the aforesaid observations/directions, the instant petition is
                                    disposed off.


                                                                                  (Dr. Gautam Chowdhary,J.)
                                    September 30, 2026
                                    CP.sahani




Digitally signed by :-
CHANDRA PRAKASH SAHANI
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad