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A bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas issued the order on a petition filed by a 22-year-old woman from Thiruvananthapuram , alleging that the police had harassed her in connection with a missing-person complaint lodged by her mother. However, govt pleader opposed the petition, contending that the police had merely asked her to appear before the station house officer (SHO) after tracing her so that the case registered on the basis of her mother’s complaint could be brought to its logical conclusion. Kochi : The high court has stated that neither the police nor the parents can compel an adult woman reported missing to return home.
Upon tracing her, the police need only record her unwillingness to return and file an appropriate report to bring the case to its logical conclusion in accordance with the law. She further alleged that the police were attempting to force her to return to her parental home, although she did not wish to do so. She reportedly left her parental home after her father allegedly opposed her desire to continue her studies and her marriage was conducted. After her marriage, her husband also allegedly opposed her wishes, following which she left her matrimonial home to pursue her studies. Acting on the missing-person complaint lodged by the petitioner’s mother, the police traced her to Thrissur. She alleged that the police had compelled her to appear at the police station and attempted to force her to return to her parental home.
The court observed that no one could compel her to return to her parental home. Being a major, she was entitled to make decisions about her own life. The report was to be forwarded to the SHO who had registered the missing-person case, enabling the investigation to be concluded by filing an appropriate report in accordance with the law, the court ordered.
However, to facilitate the closure of the case, the court directed the petitioner to appear before the local police station in the place where she currently resides to establish her presence and record her decision.