Bhubaneswar, March 14 -- The Orissa High Court on Saturday ruled that an adult woman cannot be compelled by her parents or in-laws to live with them, while dismissing a habeas corpus petition filed by a mother seeking to locate her married daughter who had been living away from her family. The court delivered the significant observation while hearing the case concerning the woman's decision to live independently.

Court Upholds Right to Live Independently

The High Court observed that there is no legal provision that allows parents or in-laws to force an adult daughter to stay either at her parental home or at her matrimonial home. The court further stated that if an adult woman decides to live independently, there is no legal barrier pre...