The Rajasthan High Court has said that if two adults wish to live together of their own free will, they can have a live-in relationship despite not being of marriageable age. The court made it clear that one’s constitutional rights cannot be limited merely on the basis of not attaining the legal age for marriage.
Justice Anup Dhand gave this decision on a petition in which an 18-year-old girl and a 19-year-old boy resident of Kota had sought security. Both of them told the court that they are living together voluntarily and have also entered into a live-in agreement on October 27, 2025.
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The petitioners said that the girl’s family members were opposing the relationship and were threatening to kill them, but the Kota police did not take any action on their complaint. Public prosecutor Vivek Chaudhary, appearing for the government side, argued that the youth was below 21 years of age, which is the legal marriage age for men, hence he should not be allowed to have a live-in relationship.
Rejecting this argument, the court said that the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution cannot be taken away merely because the petitioners are not of marriageable age. The court also said that live-in relationship is neither prohibited nor considered a crime under Indian law. Justice Dhand directed the Superintendents of Police of Bhilwara and Jodhpur (Rural) to investigate the facts recorded in the petition, assess the threat and provide security to the couple, if necessary.
