New Delhi, 20 August 2026: The Delhi High Court has clarified in an important judgment that the relationship between adults living in a live-in relationship with mutual consent is equivalent to marriage. The court has said that parents, relatives or friends have no right to interfere in this personal choice of the couple, and neither can anyone put their life or freedom in danger. Along with this, the court has also provided police protection to a live-in couple facing threats from the family.
Justice Saurabh Banerjee had given order on this application. The age of the applicant couple is more than 30 years. He told the court that they have been living together for some time and also intend to get married in the future. However, the girl's father and brother were unhappy with this relationship and were constantly threatening violence. Despite filing a complaint at the local police station, the couple approached the High Court but no action was taken.
The court made a strong comment and said, “When adults with full responsibility have decided to live in a live-in relationship, no one, including parents or relatives, has the right to hinder or interfere in their choice.” The court added that even though they are not legally married, this relationship of adults living together with mutual consent is just like marriage.
The court further said that the rights of adults cannot be stopped on the basis of caste, religion or faith. Limiting the fundamental rights given by the Constitution on the basis of social morality and prejudices is tantamount to depriving a person of his independent identity. Referring to the previous judgments of the Supreme Court, the High Court had reiterated that in the eyes of law, adults have the unlimited right to live as per their wish.