The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court while disposing the petition said that a Muslim father-in-law has no locus to file a habeas corpus plea seeking the presence/ custody of his daughter-in-law.
A Single Bench of Justice Shamim Ahmed passed this order while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Aarfa Bano Through Mohd Hasim.
The habeas corpus petition has been filed with the following prayer:
“(i) issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of habeas corpus directing the opposite parties to produce the detenue before the Court who is illegally detained by the opposite party No 3 and 4 without any reason since 2021 and free to her from illegal custody.
(ii) issue any other writ order or direction which the court may just and proper also kindly be passed in favour of the detenue.
(iii) allow writ petition in favour of the detenue with costs.”
The petition has been filed by the father-in-law of the detenue, with the prayer that his daughter-in-law, who is married with the son of petitioner, is in illegal custody of her parents, thus, custody of detenue be given to her father-in-law as her parents are not allowing her to go to her matrimonial house.
It has further been stated in the petition that husband of detenue, who is son of petitioner is living in Kuwait for earning his livelihood.
Sushil Kumar Mishra, the A.G.A-I has raised a preliminary objection by submitting that the petition has not been filed by the husband of the detenue and it has been filed by the father-in-law of the detenue, thus, it is not maintainable.
“Marriage is a contract as per the Muslim Law and husband is bound to give protection, shelter and fulfill all the desires and day to day requirements of his wife. After marriage the husband of the detenue is living and earning in Kuwait and detenue is living with her parents, thus, it cannot be said that she is in illegal detention. It may be possible that detenue herself does not want to go to her matrimonial house when her husband is not living there. Even if there is any grievance, the husband has remedy to approach before the appropriate forum, but not the father-in-law, as he has no locus at all”, the Court said while disposing the petition.