Lucknow: Observing that live-in relationships disproportionately harm a woman in case of a breakup as the man can always move on and get settled after getting married, and that women find it difficult to get a life partner after breakup, the Allahabad High Court said “live-in relationships are against the settled law in middle-class societies.”
A single judge bench of Justice Siddharth expressed displeasure at the growing number of live-in cases reaching the court. “The concept of live-in relationship goes against the interest of women since a man can marry even after live-in relationship but it is difficult for the women to find a life partner after a breakup,” Justice Siddharth ruled.
“This court finds that after live-in-relationships were legalized by the Supreme Court, these cases are coming to the courts because the concept of live-in-relationship is against the settled law in the Indian middle-class society.” The court’s remarks came while hearing a bail plea of an accused named Shane Alam who had been booked under various provisions of BNS and POCSO Act on charges of getting involved in a physical relationship with a woman after giving false assurance of marriage.
While arguing for the informant, her counsel Madhu Yadav said the act of the accused had ruined the life of the woman. Taking note, the bench said that while the concept of live-in relationship had found favour with the young generation, its after-effects were seen in the present case.
The bench, however, granted bail to the accused on June 24 this year.