PRAYAGRAJ, Oct. 6 -- The Allahabad high court has observed that parents cannot seek a writ of habeas corpus to force an adult daughter to live with them against her wishes. Justice Sandeep Jain dismissed the petition filed by Kalawati Devi, who sought the production of her 25-year-old daughter, Pooja, before the court. The court directed that the corpus, being a major and competent person, shall remain at liberty to reside at a place of her choice and with a person of her choice. Kalawati had filed a habeas corpus petition seeking directions for the production of her daughter before the high court. On August 17, 2026, the court directed the State to produce her. Thereafter, police officials from Ghosi police station in Mau district produced Pooja before the court. During her interaction with the court, Pooja stated that she was residing independently in Delhi of her own volition and was not in any illegal or unlawful detention. Pooja stated before the court that she did not wish to reside with her mother. She alleged that her mother's conduct and behaviour towards her had not been cordial and that she had frequently been subjected to assault and abuse at her parental home. On the other hand, the mother denied these allegations and expressed her desire that her daughter should reside with her at the parental home. After interacting with the daughter and considering her statement in its entirety, the court found that she is a major and had consciously and voluntarily expressed her unwillingness to reside with her mother. The court, in its order dated September 28, observed: "A major person cannot be compelled, against her expressed will, to reside with a particular person merely because such person happens to be her parent." The high court said that once the corpus has attained majority and made a "clear, voluntary and unequivocal choice" regarding her place of residence, her autonomy and decisional freedom are entitled to due recognition. The court explained that jurisdiction in a habeas corpus proceeding is directed towards securing release from illegal or unlawful detention and cannot ordinarily be invoked to compel an adult corpus to reside with a person against her will when no illegal detention is established. While dismissing the petition, the court observed, "In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the essential foundation for maintaining the present habeas corpus petition is conspicuously absent. No case of illegal or unlawful detention is made out against any person and, consequently, no further relief can be granted in exercise of the extraordinary writ jurisdiction of this Court. Accordingly, the present habeas corpus petition is dismissed."...