High Court orders interfaith couple to live together, rejecting parental interference
The Allahabad High Court ruled that a 26-year-old Hindu woman may reside with her Muslim husband, stating adult choice cannot be overridden by family.
In a September 2025 habeas corpus case, Akbar Khan sought the court’s help after his wife Sonika Chauhan was taken to her parents following a complaint by her father, Lakshman Singh Chauhan, accusing Khan of kidnapping and confinement. After multiple arrests and a six-month district ban under the Uttar Pradesh Control of Goondas Act, Sonika testified that she married Khan voluntarily in 2022 under the Special Marriage Act and wishes to live with him.
Her father claimed she was blackmailed and objected on religious grounds. The Allahabad High Court observed no proof of coercion and affirmed her fundamental right to life and liberty under Article 21, directing that she be allowed to reside with Khan and that authorities ensure their safety, while ordering her family not to interfere. The couple reported difficulties with police escort, which the Indirapuram police station denied, stating they are complying with the court order.
Why it matters
The ruling reinforces adult autonomy in marriage choices and sets a legal precedent against familial interference in interfaith unions.
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