New Delhi, Oct. 19 -- The Allahabad High Court on Saturday rebuked the Uttar Pradesh police for unlawfully detaining an interfaith couple and directed officials to ensure their safety and freedom. The court also ordered that the couple be escorted to a place of their choice, sharply criticising officers for acting "under social pressure" rather than upholding the law.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Salil Kumar Rai and Justice Divesh Chandra Samant censured the police for detaining the couple and emphasised that the woman, being a major, could not have been taken into custody under any legal provision.

"The plea that the girl had to be kept at 'One Stop Centre' and the petitioner no.2 was detained at the police station because of th...