Archive · 17 Nov 2025
Allahabad HC Denies Police Protection to Live-In Couple Citing Bigamy
Imagine a lady who is already married but is living with another man.
She asked the police to protect her and her new partner from her husband.
However, the High Court said no.
They explained that in India, if you are already married, you cannot legally be with another person in that way.
It's like having two valid marriage certificates at the same time, which is against the law and called bigamy.
The court believes its job is to uphold the law, not to help people who are breaking it.
So, they told the lady that she needs to get a divorce first if she wants to be with someone else legally.
The court believes that personal freedom doesn't mean you can ignore existing laws.
Therefore, they could not give police protection to a relationship that is considered illegal.
The Allahabad High Court refused to grant police protection to a woman and her live-in partner.
The court cited that the woman is still legally married and has not obtained a divorce.
The High Court stated that protecting such a relationship would endorse an act that amounts to bigamy, a criminal offense under Indian law.
The court emphasized that a live-in relationship requires both individuals to be unmarried and legally capable of marrying.
The petitioners' plea was dismissed as they lacked an enforceable legal right to seek protection for an illegal relationship.
- Who
- The Allahabad High Court
- What
- Denied police protection to a woman and her live-in partner.
- When
- On November 7, 2025
- Where
- Allahabad High Court, India
- Why
- Because the woman was still legally married, making the live-in relationship an offense of bigamy, which the court stated it would not protect.
Petitioner's Stance
Court's Reasoning
Legality of Relationship
Petitioner's Stance
The petitioners claimed to be adults living together by choice and sought police protection against threats from the woman's husband.
Court's Reasoning
The court ruled that since the woman is still legally married and has not obtained a divorce, their relationship constitutes bigamy, which is a criminal offense and not eligible for legal protection.
Purpose of Police Protection
Petitioner's Stance
The couple sought protection from interference and harassment from the husband, aiming for safety in their relationship.
Court's Reasoning
The court stated that extending protection would indirectly endorse an illegal act (bigamy) and that personal liberty does not extend to protecting relationships that violate the law.
Nature of Live-in Relationship
Petitioner's Stance
The petitioners presented themselves as a couple in a consensual live-in relationship.
Court's Reasoning
The court emphasized that for a live-in relationship to have legal protection, both individuals must be unmarried and legally capable of marrying each other. They also noted a lack of evidence suggesting the couple lived as husband and wife (e.g., joint accounts).
- Court
- Allahabad High Court
- Date of Order
- November 7, 2025
- Reason for Denial
- Woman is still legally married; relationship could amount to bigamy (Sections 494, 495 IPC)
- Relevant Laws Cited
- Hindu Marriage Act, Indian Penal Code (Sections 494, 495)
- Previous Judgments Referenced
- Asha Devi v. State of UP (2020), D Velusamy v. D Patchaiammal, Indra Sarma v. V.K.V. Sarma
- Petitioners
- Sonam and another person (live-in partner)