The Allahabad High Court has reaffirmed that the right to choose one’s life partner is a fundamental constitutional right and clarified that the Uttar Pradesh law regulating religious conversions does not prohibit inter-faith relationships between adults. The judgment came while hearing a habeas corpus petition involving allegations that a couple in an inter-religious relationship had been wrongfully detained by their families.
A Bench led by Justice Pankaj Bhatia observed that both the Constitution and Supreme Court precedents protect an individual’s autonomy in personal decisions such as choosing a partner, regardless of their faith. The court rejected the argument that the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act could be invoked simply because two adults from different religious backgrounds chose to be together. It noted that the legislation targets forced conversions and fraudulent inducements, not consensual adult relationships.
The High Court stressed that if an adult chooses to be in a relationship with someone of another religion without any element of coercion or deceit, the law cannot be used to intrude into their private decision-making. The Bench also reiterated that institutions of the state must not interfere with the free exercise of personal liberty guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution.
This ruling reinforces earlier Supreme Court positions that personal choices relating to marriage and partnership are intrinsic to individual dignity and freedom, and cannot be curtailed by misapplication of anti-conversion laws.
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