SC orders the release of woman detained by kin

THE WOMAN'S BOYFRIEND HAD MOVED SC, COMPLAINING SHE WAS CONFINED TO BENGALURU BY HER PARENTS, WHO DID NOT APPROVE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP

- Utkarsh Anand

Even a single day is one day too many when liberty of a person is involved, the Supreme Court held on Wednesday as it ordered immediate release of a 25-year-old woman illegally detained by her parents to stop her from being with a man of her choice and pursue a career in Dubai.

A bench of justices Bhushan R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta declared that forcible detention of the woman by her parents in Bengaluru for over four months is "illegal" and that she must "proceed further as per her own wishes".

Warning her parents of inviting contempt of court action if they breach its order, the bench also directed them to return the woman's passport, her devices and other documents within 48 hours so that she could pursue her career in Dubai as per her volition.

"When the question of liberty of a person is involved even a day's delay counts," underlined the top court, adding it was not for any court or parents to take decisions for a major woman regarding her relationships or her choice of career or the place where she wants to stay.

"She is highly qualified. Interaction with her showed that she is mature enough to understand as to what is right and what is wrong for her in her life. In any case a major girl cannot be compelled to do something against her wishes," highlighted the bench, which interacted with her in judges' chamber before passing the order.