Live-in Couples Entitled to Protection; Expatriate Abandons Wife Over Dowry

The Punjab and Haryana High Court (PHHC) has ruled that the right to life and personal liberty cannot be denied to consenting adults in a live-in relationship. It said that an individual has the right to formalize the relationship with the partner through marriage or to adopt the non-formal approach of a live-in relationship, citing that the law postulates that the life and liberty of every individual is precious and must be protected under Article 21 of the Constitution. In another case, the PHHC declined bail in a matter related to ‘honor killing’ in Panjab. The case registered in Moga revolves around the brutal killing of a young couple who had solemnized a court marriage against the wishes of the woman’s family. PHHC noted that offences of such nature ‘strike at the very root of public order and societal conscience.’ Meanwhile, a two-day-old baby girl was sold for USD 2310 in Ludhiana, leading to the arrest of five people, including the infant’s mother, an ayurvedic doctor, and a private hospital. Locals raised the alarm after noticing a woman suspiciously carrying the crying newborn. Additionally, in Fatehgarh Sahib, Rupinder Kaur, a 37-year-old woman, was left stranded after her Canada-based husband and in-laws reportedly fled the country following a domestic dispute. This has prompted the local police to file criminal charges against the family that lives in Brampton, Canada. Rupinder claims that she was mistreated by her in-laws over dowry demands when she was abroad and frequently excluded from family trips to India. The situation escalated during a recent family visit to India, prompting the in-laws to flee without her knowledge. Additionally, in a historical move, separate toilets for the transgender community are being constructed at the Pathankot District Court Complex. The estimated cost of the project is USD 745K. The move comes after recognition that transgender persons often lack adequate sanitation facilities in public buildings, including court complexes. It is in line with the Supreme Court of India ruling, which directed court complexes and other public institutions to provide separate and accessible toilet facilities for all genders, including transgender persons and persons with disabilities (earlier coverage).