March 24, 2010 witnessed a landmark verdict by the Supreme Court, legalizing live-in relationships in India. The Apex court justified that if two sound-minded adults of the opposite sex seek to live together without getting married the question of a “criminal offence” does not arise at all. It also cited the example of Lord Krishna and Radha’s relationship to substantiate its judgment.
Indian Supreme Court, Verdict, Live-in Relationships, Marriage Laws, Pre-Marital Sex,
This verdict was arrived at in response to multiple petitions filed against South Indian actress Khusboo. An astounding 22 FIRs were filed against the actress, in 2005, in response to her statement to an entertainment magazine about the rampancy of live-in relationships and pre-marital sex in India. Alarmingly, the actress’s effigies were burnt and life was threatened, for what reason? Exercising her fundamental right to speech?
The verdict is being widely criticized by certain political and social groups on the ground that it would encourage the practice of live-in relationships in India. Also, while Khusboo continues to receive widespread flak for her comments, the fact remains that live-in relationships have become a common (and practical) norm in most Indian Metros. If two adults choose to have physical relations, without a marriage certificate to reinforce the legality of their actions, it is nobody’s business but their own.
Legalizing of Live-in Relationships: A Final Word
The verdict of the Supreme Court is a welcome surprise, offering legal protection to individuals in a live-in relationship from the moral police and pseudo patrons of “Indian” culture in the nation. The SC bench, comprising of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices BS Chauhan and Deepak Verma, has also retorted to opponents of the verdict that the couples in live-in relationships are as liable to be sued as the Apex court itself for passing the verdict.
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