chandigarh the punjab and haryana high court has ruled that parents and guardians cannot assume the right to dictate to their wards how and with whom they should spend their lives with after they attain the age of majority stating that the choice of a partner is an important facet of the right to life justice alka sarin said that many parents dont consent to their childrens decision in this respect for fear that society might not accept it but society cannot determine how an individual should live her or his life and parents cannot compel a child to live a life on their terms the judge saidthe ruling came in response to a petition filed by a livein couple from haryanas jind district a 19yearold boy and an 18yearold girl who moved in together on january 18 although above the age of majority they could not legally marry because the boy wasnt 21 yet the girls family disapproved of the relationship and allegedly threatened the boy with dire consequences prompting the couple to approach the court justice sarin said that since the petitioners had attained the age of majority they have every right to live their lives as they desire within the four corners of the lawthe petitioners are seeking protection of their lives and liberty as envisaged under article 21 of the constitution no doubt petitioner number 2 boy is not of marriageable age however admittedly he is a major merely because of the fact that petitioner number 2 boy is not of marriageable age the petitioners cannot possibly be denied enforcement of their fundamental rights as envisaged under article 21 the petitioners both being major have decided to be in a livein relationship and there possibly cannot be any legally justifiable reason for the respondents the girls family to object to the same states the courts january 25 orderthe jind superintendent of police has been directed to take a decision on the representation of the couple after assessing the threat perception to life and liberty