Context
- The right to marry a person of one’s choice is integral to Article 21 (right to life and liberty) of the Constitution”, the Supreme Court said.
Other details of the Case
- The SC set aside a 2017 order of the Kerala High Court which annulled the marriage of Kerala Muslim convert girl Hadiya and Shefin Jahan.
- The choice of a partner whether within or outside marriage lies within the exclusive domain of each individual.
- The Constitution guarantees to each individual the right freely to practise, profess and propagate religion.
- Choices of faith and belief as indeed choices in matters of marriage lie within an area where individual autonomy is supreme.
- Neither the state nor the law can dictate a choice of partners or limit the free ability of every person to decide on these matters.
Article-21 includes:
- Right to live with human dignity
- Right to decent environment including pollution free water and air and protection against hazardous industries
- Right to livelihood
- Right to privacy
- Right to health
- Right to free education up to 14 years of age
- Right to free legal aid
- Right to fair trial
- Right to information
- Right to marry person of one’s choice
Source:TH