The Uttarakhand High Court recently granted police protection to an inter-faith couple in a live-in relationship, provided they register their relationship under the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) of Uttarakhand within 48 hours.
The petitioners sought the Court’s protection, claiming they were being threatened by the girl’s parents and brother.
A Bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Justice Pankaj Purohit, citing the Supreme Court’s ruling in Lata Singh v State of UP, directed that the police provide protection if the couple applies for registration under the UCC.
“We dispose of the writ petition by stating that if the petitioners apply for registration under the UCC within 48 hours, the SHO of PS Dalanwala, Dehradun, shall provide adequate protection for the couple for a period of six weeks to ensure their safety from private respondents or others acting on their behalf. After six weeks, the SHO will reassess the threat perception and take appropriate action as needed,” the Court ordered.
Section 378 of the Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand, 2024, requires partners in a live-in relationship to submit a statement to the Registrar:
“(1) It shall be obligatory for partners to a live-in relationship within the State, whether residents of Uttarakhand or not, to submit a statement of their relationship under sub-section (1) of section 381 to the Registrar within whose jurisdiction they are living.”
During the hearing, the State’s counsel informed the Bench that the UCC mandates registration for partners in a live-in relationship. The couple had not yet complied with this requirement.
The petitioners’ counsel agreed to apply under the relevant provisions of the UCC.
The Court therefore directed the couple to register their relationship under the Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand, 2024.
Advocate Mohd Matlub represented the petitioners.
Advocate General JS Virk and Advocate RK Joshi appeared for the respondents.
