SC terms detention of woman by parents illegal, expresses anguish over K'taka HC proceedings
New Delhi, Jan 17: Terming as illegal the detention of a 25-year-old woman by her parents, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked them to set her at liberty, and castigated the Karnataka High Court for "total lack of sensitivity" while handling the case.
The top court was hearing an appeal by a man challenging the order of the Karnataka High Court on his habeas corpus petition against the parents of his partner.
A person in detention, or someone acting on their behalf, may petition high courts or the Supreme Court for their production before court if they feel they have been detained unlawfully.
Taking note of the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta interacted with the woman, her parents as well as the parents of the man before passing the directions.
The bench noted that the woman, being a mature major, desires to go with the parents of the man.
"We hold that the continued detention of respondent (woman) by respondent nos.4 and 5 (her parents) is illegal," the bench said, adding, "In any case, a major girl cannot be compelled to do something against her wishes."
The top court also expressed its anguish at the manner in which the high court dealt with the matter.
"When in a habeas corpus petition the detenue had in unequivocal terms expressed before the high court that she desired to go back to Dubai to pursue her career, the high court ought to have passed the order setting her at liberty with immediate effect," it said.
The bench said adjourning the matter on 14 occasions and posting it in 2025, depicts a "total lack of sensitivity" on the part of the high court in such a matter.
"Because of such lackadaisical approach, the petitioner (man) and his parents have been compelled to make frequent trips from Dubai to Bengaluru just to ensure the well being of the detenue When the question of liberty of a person is involved even a day's delay counts," it said.
While disposing of the plea, the bench directed the parents of the woman to hand over to her the passport, other important documents and personal belongings within 48 hours.
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AAP activists detained during Mumbai protest against Raghav Chadha
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Mumbai (PTI): Police on Sunday detained some Aam Aadmi Party activists in Mumbai after they staged a demonstration against Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha, who has crossed over to the BJP, in Khar area.
Aam Aadmi Party's Mumbai unit president Preeti Sharma Menon claimed the police prevented AAP workers from protesting peacefully against "traitor" Chadha and detained local leader Ruben Mascharanhas.
A Khar Police official confirmed that Mascharanhas and some other activists have been taken to the police station, without elaborating.
"@CPMumbaiPolice @mumbaipolice has no other work but to guard Raghav Chaddha’s Mumbai residence. @aapmumbai volunteers were prevented from protesting peacefully against the GADDAR. Ruben has been detained at the Khar Police Station. But BJP is allowed to block roads at their whim," Menon stated.
The AAP's Mumbai unit had planned a protest in the Khar area against Chadha and six other Rajya Sabha MPs of the party who recently joined the BJP.
"Without any detention order or any written communication, I have been taken to the Khar Police Station. Why is @MumbaiPolice so scared of @AAPMumbai's peaceful protest against 'Gaddar' Raghav Chaddha and Sandeep Pathak? We are @ArvindKejriwal's soldiers, we are not going to be cowed down," Mascharanhas said in another post.
The AAP suffered a jolt on Friday when seven of its Rajya Sabha members, including Chadha, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, quit the party, with Chadha saying all of them have merged with the BJP, asserting that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party had strayed from its principles, values and core morals.
VIDEO | Mumbai: AAP workers protest outside Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha’s residence.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 26, 2026
On Friday, the AAP suffered a jolt when seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikram Sahni and Swati Maliwal quit and merged… pic.twitter.com/GWKCSvDrOJ
