ALLAHABAD| 27TH JUNE 2025– In a significant observation, the Allahabad High Court recently expressed concerns about the increasing number of legal cases stemming from live-in relationships, particularly those that end on a sour note. The Court emphasized that such relationships often clash with the values upheld by the Indian middle-class society.
LIVE-IN RELATIONSHIPS “AGAINST THE SETTLED LAW” OF INDIAN MIDDLE-CLASS SOCIETY: COURT
While hearing a bail application filed by one Shane Alam, who was accused of sexually exploiting a woman under a false promise of marriage, the Court made strong remarks regarding the societal and legal implications of live-in relationships.
A single-judge Bench of Justice Siddharth stated:
“This Court finds that after live-in-relationship has been legalized by the Apex Court, the Court had fed up 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 (sic).”
Women Suffer More After Live-in Breakups, Says Justice Siddharth
Justice Siddharth further observed that women are often more adversely affected when such relationships fail.
“The concept of live-in-relationship goes against the interest of the women since a man can marry even after live-in-relationship (with) a woman or number of women but it is difficult for the women to find a life partner after a breakup.”
ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT: CASE BACKGROUND: ALLEGATIONS OF FALSE PROMISE OF MARRIAGE
The bail plea pertained to a case filed under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act). The accused, Shane Alam, allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with the victim on the false pretext of marriage and later refused to marry her.
VICTIM’S COUNSEL: LIFE RUINED DUE TO ACCUSED’S ACTIONS
Madhu Yadav, counsel for the complainant, argued that the accused had “ruined the victim’s life”, making it difficult for her to find a suitable partner for marriage in the future.
COURT GRANTS BAIL DESPITE CONCERNS
While acknowledging the “adverse after-effects” of live-in relationships, particularly for women, the Court ultimately granted bail to the accused. The bail application was argued by Advocate Satish Chandra Singh on behalf of Shane Alam.
FINAL OBSERVATIONS
The Court concluded by noting that although live-in relationships may appeal to the younger generation, their negative consequences often unfold in legal disputes, particularly when such relationships end badly.
