Right to Move Freely Across India: SC Slams State for Restricting Interfaith Couple’s Travel
- ByAdmin --
- 11 Apr 2025 --
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In a disturbing incident in 2025, an interfaith couple from Kerala was stopped at the airport by local police, who claimed they needed "special permission" to travel together due to a family complaint.
The couple filed an urgent petition—and the Supreme Court intervened immediately, reaffirming a vital liberty:
Every adult citizen has the right to move freely across India—without religious, parental, or political interference.
Legal Ground
Article 19(1)(d) guarantees freedom to move freely throughout the territory of India.
No law can restrict this liberty except on grounds of:
- National interest
- Public order (under Article 19(5))
Court’s Findings
- Adults in consensual relationships cannot be stopped from travelling, even by family or state
- Law enforcement cannot take moral positions on personal relationships
- Police action without FIR or valid suspicion is pure harassment
“Love is not illegal. Movement is not a privilege. Together, they form the essence of liberty.”
Real-Life Implications
- Boosts rights of interfaith and LGBTQ+ couples
- Limits moral policing by local authorities
- Reinforces citizens’ right to autonomy and agency
Where you go—and with whom—is your right alone.
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