HC ‘Reunites’ Woman With Same-Sex Lover In Odisha’s Jajpur

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has directed the Jajpur SP to provide protection to a woman who wants to live with another woman in a same-sex relationship.

A bench of Justices SK Mishra and Savitri Ratho gave the directive on Monday while disposing of a petition by the woman’s partner.

The petitioner told the court that her partner’s mother and uncle had forcibly taken her away to their home at Bari in Jajpur district and were now trying to arrange her marriage against her wish.

According to the petition, the two women fell in love with each other in 2011 and had been enjoying a consensual relationship since 2017. A joint affidavit submitted to the court on March 17, 2020 indicated that both had declared to the Executive Magistrate, Bhubaneswar that they were staying together in a live-in relationship.

Following this, Justice Ratho interacted via video conferencing with the other woman to ascertain if she wanted to live with the petitioner.

The judge made it clear to her that merely because the petition had been filed alleging illegal restraint, she was not under any obligation or compulsion to join the company of the petitioner and she could choose to stay with her parents.

The woman, however, categorically said she wanted to live with the petitioner without further delay.

The bench then directed the Jajpur SP to provide protection to the woman so she could immediately join the company of the petitioner.