The Allahabad High Court, on September 28, 2026, threw out a habeas corpus petition filed by Kalawati Devi, who sought to compel her 25‑year‑old daughter, Kumari Pooja, to live with her.
Justice Sandeep Jain ruled that an adult major, deemed competent, may not be forced to reside with a parent against her expressed will. The court emphasized the principle of personal liberty and the right to choose one’s place of living.
During the hearing, Pooja presented herself in court, declaring she lives independently in Delhi and has no unlawful detention. She alleged repeated abuse by her mother, facts the mother denied, yet the court accepted Pooja’s testimony as credible.
With the petition dismissed, the court’s order for Pooja’s production is terminated. Kalawati Devi may now file an appeal, but the daughter’s autonomy in residence choice remains firmly protected by the current judgment.