The Bombay High Court on Friday allowed a Hindu woman in a relationship with a Muslim man to choose her own fate even as her parents claimed that she was coerced into living with the man, and the police moved her to a shelter home..A Bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande also refused to grant custody of the woman to her partner, but indicated that it would pass an order allowing her to act as per her wishes. "We are setting her on liberty...Let her do what she wants. She is of the opinion that it’s her life. We can only wish her luck," the Court observed orally. In response to the counsel for the girl’s parents, who argued that she was emotionally swayed and acting under undue influence, the Court stated,"We had asked her to go to parents...She is not ready...If she was conscious of her welfare, there was no issue...We had suggested that she stay with her parents for one more year and the infatuation might fade away.".The woman was placed in a shelter home after complaints from her parents and others, including members of the Bajrang Dal, who raised objections to her relationship with the man.In response to these complaints, the police intervened and reportedly moved her to the Shaskriya Stree Bhishekari Khikar Kendra (Government Women’s Hostel) in Chembur..Subsequently, the man filed a petition in the High Court, arguing that this action was taken despite the woman’s repeated declarations that she was voluntarily living with him in a consensual live-in relationship.The petition emphasised that her decision to reside with him was informed, deliberate and free from any coercion, undue influence, or external pressure..Muslim man moves Bombay High Court for Hindu partner's release from shelter home
