Live-In Relationship Concept Goes Against Indian Middle-Class Values: Allahabad High Court
While granting bail to a man accused of sexually exploiting a woman on the false promise of marriage, the Allahabad High Court recently remarked that the concept of live-in relationships is against the “settled law in the Indian Middle Class Society”.
A bench of Justice Siddharth also expressed displeasure at the growing number of such cases reaching the courts. The bench observed:
“After live-in-relationship has been legalized by the Apex Court, the Court had fed up [sic] such cases. These cases are coming to the Court because the concept of live-in-relationship is against the settled law in the Indian Middle Class Society…”
The judge further opined that live-in relationships disproportionately harm women, as it noted that while men may move on and even marry after such relationships end, it is difficult for women to find a life partner after a breakup.
The Court made these remarks while dealing with a bail plea of an accused named Shane Alam, who has been booked under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on the allegations of engaging in a physical relationship with the prosecutrix on the false assurance of marriage, and later refusing to marry her.
Before the bench, the counsel for the informant submitted that the acts of the accused had exploited her entire life since no one would be willing to marry her.
Taking note of these submissions, the bench said that while the concept of live-in-relationship has attracted the young generation a lot, its after-effects are seen in cases like the present one.
The bench, however, granted bail to the accused, considering his continued incarceration since February 25, absence of any prior criminal history, the nature of the allegations and overcrowding in jails.
