An inter-faith couple in a live-in relationship has been granted police protection by the Uttarakhand High Court, contingent upon registering their relationship under the state’s Uniform Civil Code (UCC) within 48 hours.
The couple sought the Court’s intervention, claiming threats from the girl’s parents and brother due to their relationship.
The Bench, comprising Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Justice Pankaj Purohit, referenced the Supreme Court’s ruling in Lata Singh v. State of UP, which provides protection to inter-faith couples. The Court ordered the police to protect the couple if they apply for registration under the UCC.
The Court’s directive stated, “We dispose of the writ petition by providing that if petitioners apply for registration under the aforesaid Act within 48 hours, the SHO, PS Dalanwala, Dehradun shall provide adequate protection to petitioners for a period of six weeks to ensure that no harm is caused to them from the private respondents or any other person acting on their behest. Upon expiry of six weeks, SHO concerned shall look into the threat perception to petitioners and take appropriate action, as deemed necessary.”
Section 378 of the Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand, 2024, mandates that partners in a live-in relationship must submit a statement to the Registrar within whose jurisdiction they reside.
During the hearing, the state’s counsel emphasized the couple’s non-compliance with the UCC’s registration requirement. The petitioners’ counsel assured the Court that the couple would comply with the registration provisions.
Following these assurances, the Court directed the couple to register their relationship under the Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand, 2024.
Legal representation for the petitioners was provided by Advocate Mohd Matlub, while Advocate General JS Virk and Advocate RK Joshi appeared for the respondent.