PRAYAGRAJ, March 30 -- Ruling that no individual can make an 'honour issue' out of a consenting adult marrying a person of their own choice, the Allahabad High Court granted protection to a couple who married out of their own free will but were apprehending honour killing from the woman's family.

With this observation, a division bench of Justice JJ Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena said in a March 25 order that it is the state's duty to protect such persons from any harm. The petitioners sought relief in connection with an FIR under Section 87 Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, which provides kidnapping, abducting or inducing a woman to compel her marriage etc.

During the court proceedings, the couple submitted that they solemnised their marriage at...