An adult woman can reside where she wants and with whom she wants: Delhi high court


The Delhi High Court has said that an adult woman is “free to reside where she wants and with whom she wants.”

This was said by the high court on Wednesday when hearing the habeas corpus appeal of a woman filed by her brother who had alleged that her sister was kidnapped.

A bench of judges Vipin Sanghi and Rajnish Bhatnagar, after interacting with the woman via video conference, said that the woman, Sulekha, could reside with a Babloo if she so desired. The two were identified by name in court records.

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“The police authorities will also advise the petitioner (the woman’s brother) and Sulekha’s parents not to take the law into their own hands or threaten Sulekha or Babloo. The mobile phone number of the bailiff of the police station where Sulekha will reside with Babloo should be provided to both Sulekha and Babloo so that they can contact the police officers in case of need, ”the bank said in its order.

The court was hearing Brother Praveen’s guilty plea, in which he said that his sister Sulekha had disappeared on 12 September. He had alleged that he was suspicious of Babloo and requested that his sister be brought to court.

Sulekha was produced in court through video conferencing where the judges interacted with her. She told the court that she left and married Babloo of her own free will.

Noting that the woman was born in 2000 and was not a minor, the court allowed her to keep Babloo whole, also providing her with security.

“Being the position mentioned above, Sulekha is free to reside wherever and with whom he wants, being older,” said the court.

The high court also ordered the police to escort Sulekha to Babloo and ensure that their families did not harass them.

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