Parents cannot take away an adult daughter's phone or block her relationship and career, Kerala High Court holds

16 October 2026

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V M of the Kerala High Court held that the parents of an adult woman cannot stop her from a consensual relationship or wrongfully take away her mobile phone. The order was passed in X v. The District Police Chief and Ors., W P (Crl) No. 1383 of 2026, reported as 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 585. The habeas corpus petition was filed by the woman's partner, who said her parents were preventing her from communicating with him and had restrained her from joining a company. The court said she appeared to be under tremendous mental pressure, directed that her phone must not be taken away under any circumstances and that all channels of communication remain open to her, and said her parents must not obstruct her interaction with the petitioner or her career choices. Citing the Supreme Court's decision in Devu G Nair v. State of Kerala, the court said the couple is entitled to police protection if they face violence or abuse, and directed the parties to appear before the Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, who will assign a counsellor.