What happened

The Allahabad High Court quashed an FIR against a couple who were both adults at the time of marriage. The FIR was filed under Section 87 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, based on a complaint by the woman’s father. The High Court held that Uttar Pradesh Police had “no business to be nosy parkers” in matters involving the marriage of consenting adults after reaching majority.

The High Court also criticized the police approach as siding with the woman’s father and ordered financial costs against the police and the complainant. The court directed the Superintendent of Police and the Station House Officer to jointly pay ₹1,000 to the woman, and ordered the father to pay ₹5,000.

Background and earlier position

A police investigation is normally justified when there is a genuine allegation of a cognisable offence requiring inquiry. Here, the High Court found the complaint’s focus to be the marriage choice of a major person—an area where criminal process should not be used as leverage in a family dispute. The High Court connected this with Article 21 (the constitutional guarantee of protection of life and personal liberty) by treating the freedom to marry a partner of one’s choice as part of liberty.

What changed now (the court’s directions and legal effect)

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