In a recent order, the Delhi High Court has said that a live-in relationship between consenting adults is ‘akin to marriage’ and that parents, relatives or friends cannot interfere with the couple’s decision to live together. The court’s observation came while granting police protection to a couple who told the court they were facing threats from the woman’s family over their relationship. The couple, both in their 30s, told the court that they had been living together for some time and intended to marry. However, the woman’s father and brother were allegedly unhappy with the relationship and had threatened the couple with violence. After the couple approached the police, they moved the Delhi High Court seeking protection.
