The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed its dissatisfaction with the Karnataka High Court’s handling of a habeas corpus petition involving the illegal detention of a 25-year-old woman. The Supreme Court criticized the High Court’s “total lack of sensitivity” and “lackadaisical approach” for adjourning the case 14 times and postponing it indefinitely until 2025.

A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta ordered the immediate release of the woman, who was unlawfully held at her uncle’s house by her parents. The court emphasized the urgency of addressing matters concerning personal liberty, stating, “When the question of liberty of a person is involved, even a day’s delay counts.”

The woman, identified as the petitioner-Kevin Joy Varghese’s relationship partner, expressed her desire to pursue her career in Dubai. Despite her unequivocal statement before the High Court, the case faced numerous delays. The Supreme Court criticized the High Court’s failure to promptly release her and noted that such a lackadaisical approach had contributed to further illegal detention.

Petitioner Kevin Joy Varghese asserted that the woman and he had been in a relationship since 2022 and were studying together in Dubai. He alleged that her parents forcibly took her from Dubai and detained her in Bengaluru at her uncle’s house upon learning about their relationship.

The Supreme Court interacted with the involved parties, including the woman, her parents, and the petitioner’s parents. The bench observed that the woman, despite having love and respect for her parents, expressed her strong desire to return to Dubai for her career. She highlighted her inability to attend job interviews in Dubai due to her detention.

Concluding that the woman’s continued detention was illegal, the Supreme Court ordered her immediate release and permitted her to pursue her career in Dubai as she wished. The bench also directed her parents to return her passport, documents, and belongings within 48 hours.