Telangana HC orders release of major woman from shelter
HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court on Monday ruled that a major woman has the right to live with a partner of her choice and ordered her immediate release from Shakti Sadan, a shelter home in Hyderabad.
Habeas corpus plea by partner
A division bench of Justices Moumita Bhattacharya and Gadde Praveen Kumar passed the order while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by a young man, alleging that his partner was being unlawfully confined at the shelter run by the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust.
The couple, belonging to different communities, had earlier left their homes in Hyderabad and approached Tukaram Gate police station seeking protection after facing opposition from their families. Police, after speaking to both families, advised an amicable settlement and shifted the woman to Shakti Sadan.
Adult woman cannot be confined, court says
The man later wrote to the Chief Justice alleging illegal confinement. Treating the letter as a suo motu habeas corpus petition, the High Court took up the matter urgently.
During the hearing, the woman appeared before the bench along with her partner and her mother. She told the court that she did not wish to live with her mother and had decided to live with her partner of her own free will. The bench accepted her statement as voluntary.
Holding that a major woman cannot be forced to stay in a shelter against her will, the court said she has the right to choose her life partner and live with him. It directed the shelter authorities to release her immediately.
The bench noted the mother’s concern over the man allegedly having a criminal record, but clarified that she is free to approach the police and seek legal remedies if any unlawful incident occurs in future. The petition was disposed of.
