Nainital: The Uttarakhand High Court has raised questions regarding a plea challenging the mandatory registration of live-in relationships under the state's Uniform Civil Code. The court asked how it could be considered an invasion of privacy when couples were living together without marriage.

A division bench of Chief Justice G Narender and Justice Alok Mehra asked, "You are living in society, not in a far-off cave in the jungle. From neighbours to society, your relationship is known and you are living together brazenly, without being married. Then how can the registration of a live-in relationship invade your privacy?"

The petitioner approached the court to challenge the provision in the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which mandates the registration of live-in relationships or face imprisonment and fines.

The petitioner expressed distress over this provision, arguing that it infringed on their privacy. As an inter-faith couple, they claimed it was difficult to live openly in society and register their relationship.

The petitioner's counsel argued that many live-in relationships had successfully transitioned into marriages, and the provision created unnecessary obstacles for couples' future and personal privacy.

Earlier, on the PIL and other petitions filed against UCC, the court directed that the aggrieved by the UCC could approach the high court.
The court would hear the matter along with similar pleas on April 1. PTI