Society · 25 Jul 2026

Shakti Vahini v Union of India

With reference to Supreme Court judgments on the right to marry a partner of one's choice, which one of the following statements is correct?

AIn Lata Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh (2006), the Supreme Court held that no khap panchayat or community body may obstruct a marriage between consenting adults.
BIn Shakti Vahini v. Union of India (2018), the Supreme Court held that an adult citizen has the right to choose a partner and that the State must protect, not merely tolerate, that choice.
CIn Shakti Vahini v. Union of India (2018), the Supreme Court held that no khap panchayat or other community body may obstruct a marriage between consenting adults.
DThe Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 was enacted in pursuance of directions issued by the Supreme Court in Shakti Vahini v. Union of India.
This question is based on: 2 held for raping women thrown out by kin over marriages outside caste
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About this question

Why in news

Two men were arrested in Chhattisgarh's Korea district for allegedly raping women who had been abandoned by their families after marrying outside caste, reviving debate on the legal gap between judicial protection during marriage and abandonment afterward.

Why for UPSC

UPSC frequently tests precise attribution of holdings across related landmark cases addressing the same broad theme but establishing distinct legal principles - exactly the kind of confusion this case invites.

Prelims summary

Lata Singh (2006) established an adult's right to choose a partner with State protection; Shakti Vahini (2018) specifically barred khap panchayats from obstructing consenting adult marriages. The two holdings are often swapped in exam distractors.

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