Hospitality chain OYO Rooms’ recent decision to restrict unmarried couples from booking rooms at its properties in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut has not gone down well with a sizable section of youngsters in Pune.
Announced on January 5, the new OYO policy requires guests to provide valid proof of marriage at check-in, regardless of whether the booking was made online or at the reception desk in Meerut. Partner hotels have also been given the authority to turn down bookings in accordance with local sensibilities. The company has said the policy might be expanded to more cities, reported PTI.
“Yes. No law in the country denies an unmarried couple a stay in a hotel,” the OYO website, however, says.
The new rule has sparked debates and raised concerns about moral policing. For years, the hotel chain had built a reputation as a safe and private space for young couples, offering a safe space from intrusive family members.
Cities like Pune also lack adequate ‘third places’, a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg to describe places other than home (first place) and work (second place) where people can hang out and interact. The beaches of Mumbai and expansive gardens in Delhi and Pune are examples of third places. Hotel chains like OYO are used not only by couples but also by groups of friends looking for third places.
A policy mandating marriage registration will automatically restrict mixed-gender friend groups from booking hotel rooms as well, said a Pune youngster.
‘Unnecessary and intrusive’
Criticising OYO’s decision, Pune-based Dhanraj Khatri, 25, asked if married couples are the only people who need a place to stay. “OYO was a safe space for young couples starting their journey together. This decision alienates a significant portion of their customers. Relationships don’t need a marriage certificate to be valid, and hotel policies should reflect the values of inclusivity and freedom that young people believe in today,” he added.
Story continues below this ad
“We strongly disagree with the new policy. It’s unfair and outdated to restrict unmarried couples from staying together,” said Khatri’s girlfriend, 24, requesting anonymity.
Sahil Yadav, 20, said, “This new policy is not right. Hotels shouldn’t act like this. Restricting unmarried couples entirely is unnecessary. They could impose other conditions, like time limits, but making rooms available only for married couples doesn’t make sense.”
Anushree Shirkhedkar, student, 19, said, “I understand they want to create a family-friendly environment, but this is taking away personal freedom. For those exploring a relationship, this implies that simply dating is wrong. Businesses should be service providers, not impose personal judgments or reinforce outdated societal norms.”
A 20-year-old student at the Maharashtra Institute of Technology in Pune said, requesting anonymity, “Hotels shouldn’t ask for marriage certificates. Who are they to question us? It’s unnecessary and intrusive. We’re the ones paying them, and this decision could cost their business a lot. It’s totally absurd.”
Story continues below this ad
Sudhakar Shetty, President, Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association, told The Indian Express, “As long as the couple can provide government ID cards and prove they are adults, it is not anyone’s business. I don’t know how they came up with these policies. It is a free country.”
OYO’s communication team did not reply to repeated requests for comment.
(With inputs from Alister Augustine and Samiksha Bhowmik. Augustine and Bhowmik are interns with The Indian Express)
Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting.
Professional Background
Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune.
Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics.
Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories:
1. Investigations & Governance
"Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents.
"44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families.
2. Education & Campus Life
Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University.
"Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial.
"Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers.
3. Human Rights & Social Issues
"Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India.
"'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying.
Signature Style
Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty.
X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More
