New Delhi: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has said that if married persons entering into live-in relationships outside of their marriage face threats by any ‘moral vigilantes’, they should be given protection.

A bench of Justices Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Sudeepti Sharma said that every person has autonomy of body and if any assault is permitted on the live-in couple, it will be a casualty, reported LiveLaw.

"Irrespective of socio-moral effect of such live-in relationships rather the preemptions of apposite assaults of any nature, befalling the live-in couple concerned, is the cornerstone of the structure laid by the Apex Court, wherebys, self autonomy in its various dynamic forms has been endowed upon the live-in couple, even if one of them is married, and, even if therebys thus decriminalized adultery does erupt. Therefore, therebys the protection to the above genre of relationship is to be granted, (sic),” said the court.

The court further added that if any of the partners in the live-in relationship has minor children, the individuals shouldn’t abandon their duty to provide optimum protection and care to them, reported LiveLaw.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.