Court Directs State to Safeguard Newlywed Couple from Family Harm, Emphasizes State's Duty to Protect Individual Rights
In a significant ruling reinforcing the fundamental right to marry a person of one’s choice, the Allahabad High Court has issued directives to protect a couple facing threats from the family of one of the partners. The decision came on March 25, 2026, when the court heard a writ petition filed by Smt. Prachi Agrawal and her husband, against the backdrop of alleged threats of honor-related violence from the bride's family.
The bench, comprising Justices J.J. Munir and Tarun Saxena, firmly upheld the rights of adult individuals to enter into marriage by their own volition, free from family interference. The petitioners, who married at the Arya Samaj Vaidik Vivah Sanskar Trust in Ghaziabad, had faced opposition from the first petitioner’s family, culminating in a purportedly spurious FIR under Section 87 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The judgment emphasized the State's responsibility to protect citizens from honor-related issues, including threats from their own families. "Adult individuals have the right to marry a person of their choice and live without interference, even from their family. The State is duty-bound to protect their life, limb, and property from threats, including honor-related issues," the court underscored.
The court restrained the petitioner's family members from contacting or harming the couple, mandating the police to ensure compliance with its order. Until further notice, the couple is protected from arrest in connection with the FIR lodged against them.
Justice Munir highlighted, “No one can make an honor issue out of an adult marrying a person of his/her choice. It is the duty of the State to protect the life, limb, and property of persons, even from their own family members in these circumstances.”
The court has instructed the Senior Superintendent of Police, Aligarh, to ensure the couple's safety, emphasizing the need for the police to prevent any harm from the fourth respondent, Jaiprakash Agrawal, and his family.
The order reflects a broader judicial affirmation of individual rights against societal and familial pressures, particularly in cases of personal choice in marriage. The matter is adjourned for further proceedings on April 8, 2026, with notices issued to the respondents and a stay on the arrest of the petitioners.
Bottom Line:
Adult individuals have the right to marry a person of their choice and live without interference, even from their family. The State is duty-bound to protect their life, limb, and property from threats, including honor-related issues.
Statutory provision(s): Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 Section 87
Smt. Prachi Agrawal v. State of U.P., (Allahabad)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2874846
