A metropolitan court recently allowed a 20-year-old woman to unite with her live-in mate from the same tribe,releasing her from a womens protection home where she was kept against her wishes. Neha Patani,a resident of Saraspur and in her first year of college,had eloped with Sanjay Kumar Patani,an auto-rickshaw driver,three months ago. Sanjay was already married and has four children. Sanjay and Neha had signed a live-in contract (maitri karar) before they started living together. However,the girls family opposed it and lodged a complaint with Meghaninagar police station. The police picked up Neha and brought her to the police station but she refused to go back to her parents. Neha was sent to the Womens Protection Home at Odhav after which her live-in partner Sanjay moved an application before the metropolitan court for her release. Sanjay stated in the application that he had known Neha for the last three years and three months back,they signed the contract to live together. He appealed to the court to release Neha from the protection home. I ran away from home after agreeing to a live-in relationship. But the police were looking for me. I was produced before the police station from where they sent me to the Womens Protection Home. I was kept here against my will, Neha stated in her application before the court. Neha is an adult and a first year B.com student. She can understand what is good or bad for her and she was under no pressure, the court observed after ordering her release from the protection home. Everyone was against Nehas decision,right from her parents to officials at the Women Protection Home. They all tried to convince her that living with Sanjay was not good for her in the long run but she stood firm on her decision. As per the law,Sanjay has the right live with Neha, said Sanjays lawyer,Amit K Bulsari.
