Archive · 6 Nov 2025
High Court Backs Muslim Woman in Live-in Relationship Post-Verbal Divorce
Imagine a woman named Ayesha was married, but she and her husband had a verbal 'goodbye' (divorce).
After this, she started living with a new partner.
Her ex-husband and some relatives became angry and started threatening them.
Ayesha and her new partner asked the police for help, but they were worried.
So, Ayesha went to a big court, the High Court, and said they just wanted to be safe.
The High Court said that everyone has the right to be safe, even if their living situation isn't how most people traditionally live.
The court reminded everyone that protecting people's safety is the most important thing.
They told the police to make sure Ayesha and her partner are not harmed.
The court also said it doesn't matter if the 'goodbye' was fully official or if some people don't agree with their choices; safety comes first.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the Amritsar Police Commissioner to protect a live-in couple.
The couple includes a Muslim woman who claims her husband gave her a verbal divorce.
The court affirmed that individuals in live-in relationships are entitled to the protection of their life and liberty.
The High Court cited precedents for granting protection even in cases of contested or incomplete divorces.
The court emphasized that personal liberty must be safeguarded, and the protection order does not preclude future legal proceedings.
- Who
- A Muslim woman (Ayesha Biwi, 41) and her live-in partner, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Amritsar Police Commissioner.
- What
- The High Court directed police to protect a live-in couple, including a Muslim woman who claims a verbal divorce from her previous husband.
- When
- The High Court directed protection on a Thursday; the couple approached police on October 30.
- Where
- Punjab and Haryana High Court, with directions to Amritsar Police Commissioner.
- Why
- To protect the life and liberty of the couple who feared threats from relatives following their live-in relationship, despite disputes over the validity of the verbal divorce.
Couple Seeking Protection
Legal/Societal Norms
Right to Life and Liberty
Couple Seeking Protection
The couple, even if in a live-in relationship after a verbal divorce, is entitled to protection of their life and liberty.
Legal/Societal Norms
The court's primary focus should be on protecting life and liberty, rather than adjudicating the validity of the divorce or the nature of the relationship at the protection stage.
Validity of Divorce and Relationship Status
Couple Seeking Protection
The woman was given a verbal divorce under Muslim customs before entering the live-in relationship. The court has upheld protection even with contested or incomplete divorces.
Legal/Societal Norms
The relationship may conflict with traditional norms and the validity of the divorce is a point of dispute. The court clarified that this protection order does not prevent future proceedings related to bigamy, custody, or maintenance.
Social Acceptance of Live-in Relationships
Couple Seeking Protection
Live-in relationships, while not universally accepted, are neither illegal nor immoral in the eyes of the law and have gained social foothold beyond metropolitan areas.
Legal/Societal Norms
The court acknowledges that the relationship may conflict with traditional norms, indicating a societal divide on its acceptance.
- Court
- Punjab and Haryana High Court
- Date of Decision
- Thursday
- Petitioners
- Ayesha Biwi (41) and her live-in partner
- Previous Marriage
- Ayesha Biwi was married to Mohammad Khurshid, with two children from this marriage.
- Allegation
- Husband pronounced verbal divorce under Muslim customs, then threatened woman after she entered a new live-in relationship.
- Police Direction
- Amritsar Police Commissioner to assess threat perception and act on the couple's representation.
- Legal Basis for Protection
- Right to life and liberty, protection for live-in couples, precedent for protection even with contested divorces.