India, Nov. 11 -- The Bombay high court held that an adult woman has complete freedom to choose her life partner irrespective of faith, belief, religion, or caste, and must be allowed to exercise her choice and right "without any force or being influenced by any pressure".

A vacation bench of Justice Advait M Sethna and Justice Ranjitsinha Raja Bhonsale, in an order dated November 9, observed that the right to marry a person of one's choice is an integral part of the fundamental right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

The court was hearing a petition filed by a 21-year-old Hindu woman, who married a 21-year-old Muslim man in October. The couple, who had been in a relationship for the last four t...