Jabalpur, August 18, 2025 – The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that an adult woman has the absolute right to decide where and with whom she wishes to live, even if the relationship is socially disputed.
The division bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Pradeep Mittal Delivered on the habeas corpus petition . The case involved a young woman, referred to as Corpus X, who had eloped with a married man. Her family wanted her to return home, arguing that she could not stay with him since he already had a wife.
The judges made it clear that once a person attains adulthood, the law grants them autonomy over personal choices.
"The Corpus 'X' is an adult. She has a right and a mind of her own and the right to make a decision, whether right or wrong, with regard to the person with whom she wants to live," the bench observed.
The Court also pointed out that even if the man is married, there is no legal provision that prevents the woman from living with him. The judges explained that in case of a second marriage, the offence of bigamy can only be pursued by the first wife against her husband and the woman concerned.
Counsel for the petitioner argued that since the man was already married, the woman should be sent back to her parents. However, the State’s counsel informed the Court that the man had already separated from his first wife and was in the process of seeking divorce.
Rejecting moral considerations, the bench emphasized that the judiciary cannot interfere in personal choices of adults. The Court instructed the police to release the woman after recording an undertaking from her that she willingly wished to live with the man, along with his written acceptance of her company.
"As this Court cannot pontificate on matters relating to morality, and the Corpus has declined to stay with her parents, she must be allowed to live with the person of her choice," the order concluded.
The petition was accordingly disposed of.
Case Title:- N v The State of Madhya Pradesh and Others
Case Number: Writ Petition No. 31544 of 2025