Haryana couple, married, seeks protection of their live-in relationship

CHANDIGARH: A couple, both of whom are already married to other partners, has approached the Punjab and Haryana high court for protection against their relatives who are opposed to their “live-in relationship”.
The high court has issued notice to the Gurgaon police seeking a reply on the issue. The relatives of the woman, who are opposed to the relationship and are allegedly threatening the couple, have also been asked to respond to the issue.
“The counsel for the petitioners has submitted that both the petitioners are married somewhere else and now they are in a live-in relationship with each other and are seeking protection of their lives,” observed the HC while adjourning the matter for July 27.
Justice J S Puri issued the notice after hearing a petition filed by the couple.
Family of woman opposed live-in relationship more
The petitioners include 29-year-old Opisha and 49-year-old Shabbir, living together at present in Sohna town of Gurgaon. Both are already married to other people. While the woman petitioner has mentioned her husband’s name, the details of the male petitioner’s wife are not included in the petition.
“Both the petitioners are major and have a good understanding with each other. They only want to stay together in a live-in relationship, therefore, the petitioners have knocked the door of this court for immediate and emergent relief,” the couple’s counsel told the HC.
The petitioner couple has sought directions to Gurgaon police for the protection of their life and liberty and to save them from unnecessary harassment at the hands of their relatives.
According to the woman petitioner, she had developed some intimacy with the male petitioner for a long time, which culminated into friendship. Both of them then decided to opt for a live-in relationship. However, according to the petitioners, the woman’s relatives are more aggressive regarding their relationship and have been threatening to harm their life and liberty.
The woman petitioner also claimed that she had left her house and informed her parents about her decision to live with petitioner No. 2 (male partner).
According to the petitioners, they have tried their level best to convince their relatives but in spite of this, they had threatened the petitioners that they would face dire consequences for going against their wishes and would even kill them.
The petitioners claimed that they had submitted a representation to the Gurgaon police on June 21 but they have not been provided any protection till now.