High Court Expresses Serious Reservations Regarding the Nature of Live-In Relationships
In a recent pronouncement, the Allahabad High Court made an observation stating that live-in relationships are primarily regarded as a form of “passing time,” marked by a deficiency in stability and sincerity.
Live-in relationships Context
When dismissing a petition submitted by an inter-faith live-in couple seeking police protection, a Bench consisting of Justices Rahul Chaturvedi and Mohd Azhar Husain Idrisi articulated this perspective.
“While it is true that the respected Supreme Court has validated live-in relationships in several cases, it is crucial to recognize that within a brief two-month span, at an age as tender as 20-22 years, it may be unreasonable to expect the couple to thoroughly contemplate the nature of their relatively short-lived association. As mentioned earlier, this often leans more towards infatuation, particularly among opposite sexes, and may lack the depth of sincerity. Life, as we all know, is not without its trials and tribulations, subjecting every couple to the harsh realities of existence. Our collective experience demonstrates that such relationships frequently tend to be casual, temporary, and fragile. Consequently, we refrain from providing protection to the petitioner during the investigative stage.”
The court considered a petition jointly submitted by a couple, comprising a Hindu woman and a Muslim man. They requested the dismissal of the First Information Report (FIR) lodged against the man, which accused him of kidnapping under Section 366 of the Indian Penal Code. The complainant in this case was the woman’s aunt.
Additionally, the couple sought police protection because they had made the decision to maintain their live-in relationship.
The woman’s legal representative put forth the argument that she is above 20 years of age, possesses the right to determine her own future, and has willingly entered into a live-in relationship with the accused.
On the other side, the opposing counsel argued that the accused is already facing charges under the Uttar Pradesh Gangster Act. They asserted that he is a “road-romeo” and a wanderer with no prospects, contending that he would undeniably have a detrimental impact on the girl’s life.
Analysis on live-in relationships
After a thorough evaluation of the facts, the Court conveyed its reservations regarding live-in relationships.
However, the Bench explicitly stated that its viewpoint should not be misconstrued as a verdict or approval of the petitioners’ relationship, nor as a shield against any lawful actions carried out in accordance with the law.
The Court holds the view that relationships of this nature often lean more towards infatuation rather than possessing stability and sincerity. Until such time as the couple chooses to formalize their union through marriage or demonstrates a sincere commitment to one another, the Court refrains from offering any judgments on relationships of this kind.
With these remarks, the Court rejected the plea.
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