Adult woman's free choice of partner overrides parental detention; habeas corpus granted.

This petition, invoking the habeas corpus jurisdiction of this Court, is filed by the petitioner, who alleges that the detenue, Ms. Feba Shibu Thomas, aged 23 years, has been in a romantic relationship with him and that she was abducted and detained against her will and consent by respondents 3 and 4, who are her father and aunt, respectively.

2. Pursuant to the order passed by this Court on 01.04.2026, the detenue was produced before us by the State. On interaction with the detenue, she stated that being an adult aged 23 years, she prefers to go with the petitioner, with whom she is romantically inclined. We find the detenue to be capable of taking independent decisions regarding her life and her choice of a life partner, and hence we have to see the present detention of the detenue at the instance of her father and aunt as illegal. We, therefore allow this writ petition and permit the detenue to go along with the petitioner, to live her life according to her choice.