Live-In Relation: "Take Care Of Girl's Basic Needs, Ensure Dignified Life": MP High Court Directs Man; Para Legal Volunteer To Visit Their Residence

The Bench of Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anand Pathak was hearing the habeas corpus plea of the man who alleged that the corpus/girl abandoned her parental home sometime in December, 2020 being piqued by the father of the corpus subjecting her to physical and mental cruelty.

Since the corpus/girl was lodged at One Stop Center, Morena, the Habeas plea prayed that she be released from the said Center and be allowed to go and reside wherever she wishes to.

The girl was produced before the Court wherein she revealed that her date of birth is May 6, 2003 and she had left her parental home due to mental and physical cruelty inflicted by her father and she wants to reside with the petitioner in a live-in relationship.

The parents of the corpus were also heard through video conferencing, wherein her father denied the allegation of mental and physical cruelty on the corpus has made.

However, the Court noted that the corpus wa presently major w.e.f. 06.05.2021 and had also expressed that she is residing and wants to reside with the petitioner in live-in relationship.

Significantly, the Court said:

"This Court cannot come between the will and wish of the corpus being now major. The corpus further reveals that she has not been held in unlawful confinement or restraint by anyone."

Court's order

Taking into account the statements made by the girl as well as by her father that she had left school after completing 8th class, the Court though it appropriate to direct the petitioner/man to ensure the following:

• That the corpus pursues her academic career not only till 12th class but also upto graduate level so that she is able to become self-reliant.
• The petitioner shall submit a written undertaking in this regard which shall be filed before the Registry within one week from today.
• In the undertaking, the petitioner shall make sure that he shall take care not only of the basic necessities but also of comforts of corpus to enable to live a life of dignity.

Further, to ensure proper execution of the directions with regard to the girl, the Court ordered the Legal Aid Officer at Gwalior Bench to appoint a woman Para Legal Volunteer.

The said woman Para Legal Volunteer will have to make weekly visits at the place of residence of corpus and submit monthly report that the undertaking submitted by the petitioner is being honored, ordered the Court.

Case title - Veer Singh Kushwah v. The State Of Madhya Pradesh And Others

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