Adults can be in live-in relationship even without attaining marriageable age: Rajasthan HC

The Rajasthan High Court ruled that two consenting adults have the right to live together even if they have not yet reached the legal age of marriage, thus underlining that constitutional rights cannot be curtailed.

Judge Anoop Dhand made the decision while hearing the protection plea of ​​an 18-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man from Kota, who told the court that they were living together of their own free will.

The couple told the court that they signed a living agreement on October 27, 2025.

The petitioners alleged that the woman’s family was against the relationship and threatened to kill them, and their complaint to the Kota police went unanswered.

Opposing the petition, public prosecutor Vivek Choudhary argued that the man should not be allowed to live together as he has not reached the age of 21 (the minimum legal marriage age for men).

The court rejected the claim, stating that the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution cannot be denied solely because the applicants are not of marriageable age.

“The state has a constitutional obligation to protect the life and liberty of every individual,” the judge said. he said, adding that live-in relationships are not prohibited or criminalized under Indian law.

Justice Dhand directed Bhilwara and Jodhpur (Rural) Superintendents of Police to verify the facts stated in the petition, assess the threat perception and provide necessary protection to the couple, if necessary.