For unmarried couples in India, traveling can often come with its fair share of challenges, particularly when it comes to seeking privacy.

Many accommodations commonly reject their requests for shared rooms—especially when the booking is in their hometown. This issue has placed a spotlight on a recent policy change by a popular budget hospitality platform in a small northern Indian city.

In early January, OYO Rooms introduced "new check-in guidelines" for partnered properties in Meerut, a city approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Delhi. The directive gave hotels the discretion to decline bookings from unmarried couples. This announcement sparked significant backlash online, as OYO has long been known as a refuge for such travelers.

“Their whole brand, when it launched, revolved around the tagline ‘no questions asked,’ essentially positioning OYO as the go-to place for privacy,” said a 25-year-old media professional from Delhi, who spoke to CNN anonymously about using the platform.

While it’s fairly commonplace in many countries for unmarried couples to share a room, such practices in India remain culturally taboo. OYO, founded in 2012, was among the first platforms to cater to this demographic, introducing "couple friendly" tags on its app and website. Other startups like Stay Uncle, Brevistay, and Nestaway have since followed suit, offering hourly rooms and rental spaces that ensure privacy for unmarried couples.

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OYO’s sudden policy shift in Meerut, though limited in scope, is being viewed as emblematic of the ongoing struggle between traditional Indian values and a modernizing society.

"Culturally, privacy in India doesn’t carry the same meaning as it might in more individualistic societies. Our collectivist orientation often clashes with the idea of personal spaces," explained Shagufa Kapadia, a professor in Human Development and Family Studies and director of the Women’s Studies Research Center at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.

OYO attributed its decision to feedback from local civil society groups, explaining that while the company champions personal liberty, it also feels obligated to align with societal expectations in specific markets.

“We respect individual freedoms but also recognize our responsibility to engage with civil society groups in local areas," said Pawas Sharma, North India region head for OYO, in a statement about the change.

The Family vs. The Couple

A 2024 OYO advertisement humorously nods to the company’s reputation for accommodating unmarried couples. In the ad, a married couple tells their extended family around the dinner table that they’ve booked an OYO room and invited them all along to “have fun together,” shocking the relatives. The scene then transitions to a family-friendly OYO property, with the tagline: “This is not that OYO hotel.” Social media users saw this campaign, alongside the Meerut policy, as steps by OYO toward rebranding itself as more family-oriented.

Professor Kapadia theorized that in Indian culture, even within marriage, privacy for couples is conditional and subordinate to the family’s priorities. She also noted that smaller cities like Meerut, part of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Uttar Pradesh state, are often subjected to heightened scrutiny from traditional and religious groups, who might pressure establishments catering to unmarried couples.

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This societal pressure often aligns with broader government tendencies to intrude into private lives, particularly targeting young people and women under the guise of maintaining cultural values, Kapadia added.

CNN reached out to Meerut district officials for comment, though local hotel managers expressed divided opinions on the issue.

“I don’t want to say if the policy is good or bad,” said one OYO-partnered hotel manager in Meerut, choosing to remain anonymous. “We just don’t want to invite questions or interference from groups accusing us of allowing unmarried couples.”

Concerns for LGBTQ+ Travelers

An owner of another Meerut hotel also shared his unbending stance. “Unmarried couples are not welcome here. It’s against my values, and I have the right to decide who stays at my property," he said, adding that couples who book rooms locally are especially frowned upon.

Such attitudes pose additional hurdles for India’s LGBTQ+ community, where same-sex couples, without legal marriage rights, already struggle to find acceptance. Even in "couple friendly" properties, they often face judgment. A bisexual woman from Delhi recounted an instance where hotel staff were blatantly dismissive of her issues, most likely due to her partner’s tomboyish appearance.

"Hotels denying unmarried locals leaves us with nowhere safe to go," she explained, adding that living with one’s family until marriage is common for women in India. While cities like Delhi may offer some alternatives, smaller towns like Meerut leave few, if any, options.

However, there are exceptions. Mukesh Gupta, the owner of Hotel O Subhadra Residency in Meerut, said his rooms remain open to all consenting adults. "Unless the law specifically forbids it, I don’t believe such restrictions are enforceable," he said. His hotel is still marked "couple friendly" on OYO’s app and website.

Despite this, the situation highlights how societal constraints may push some couples into riskier environments. "OYO was a lifesaver for us during the early years of our relationship," said Terrance, 28, reflecting on his seven-year relationship with his current live-in partner. He worries that unwelcome changes could lead others down unsafe paths.

Kapadia echoed similar concerns, particularly for women, adding, "In India, public spaces like parks often serve as places for intimacy, but they expose couples to potential harassment from cops or park authorities."

The Rights of the Unwed

Legally, Indian courts have affirmed that unmarried couples have the right to stay in hotels. A 2015 Bombay High Court judgment condemned police raids on hotel rooms, emphasizing that such actions violated the fundamental right to privacy protected by the Indian Constitution. Similarly, in 2019, the Madras High Court ruled there are no laws prohibiting unmarried people from booking hotel rooms.

Still, many hotel owners flout these legal precedents, often with support from local authorities. Meanwhile, OYO declined to provide further details on its updated Meerut policy.

Beyond questions of privacy, Kapadia voiced concerns about the impact on tourism. She cautioned that denying unmarried couples lodging might create an unwelcoming atmosphere for international visitors from cultures where marriage is less central to relationships.

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In Bengaluru, a militant Hindu nationalist group member recently urged police to impose similar restrictions on unmarried couples. "We must uphold tradition and stop illegal activities," he argued.

These sentiments alarm young couples seeking private spaces. "Why should anyone else decide what people do in the privacy of a hotel room?" wondered the 25-year-old professional from Delhi. "Aren’t our constitutional rights supposed to protect us even here?"