The Allahabad high court has ruled that a married man in a live-in relationship with a consenting adult woman is not in breach of any law.
A bench comprising justice JJ Munir and justice Tarun Saxena granted protection from arrest to both petitioners in the case, stating that morality and law must be kept apart.
The court observed that if there is no offence under the law, social opinions and morality will not guide the action of the Court for protecting the rights of citizens.
The case involved a married man and a consenting adult woman living together, but a complaint was lodged by the woman's family on the grounds that the man was already married.
The court restrained the woman's family member from causing any harm to the petitioners and directed that they shall not enter the parties' matrimonial home or contact them directly or through any electronic means of communication.
The Superintendent of Police, Shahjahanpur, was directed to ensure the safety and security of the petitioners.
