PRAYAGRAJ, March 29 -- A single-judge bench of the Allahabad high court has observed that married persons cannot be legally permitted to enter a live-in relationship without divorcing their spouse first.

Justice Vivek Kumar Singh, in a March 20 order, made public on Saturday, disposed of the petition filed by Anju and male partner who had sought a writ of mandamus directing the respondents not to interfere in their "peaceful life" and also for a direction to provide protection.

The court said it cannot issue any writ or direction for protection to the petitioners who are in a live-in relationship, without obtaining a decree of divorce from a competent court.

However, the court said that if the petitioners are disturbed or subjected to ...