By The Sampadak Express
The Supreme Court has ruled that allegations of a false promise of marriage are not tenable when two consenting adults have been in a live-in relationship for an extended period. The court emphasized that such relationships, voluntarily entered into by financially independent individuals, must be viewed through a modern lens.
The judgment came in response to an appeal by a man accused of forcibly having sex with a woman with whom he had signed a settlement affirming mutual affection and an intention to marry. The Uttarakhand High Court had earlier dismissed the man’s plea to quash the case, prompting him to approach the apex court.
Delivering its verdict, the bench observed, “If two able-minded adults reside together as a live-in couple for more than a couple of years and cohabit with each other, a presumption would arise that they voluntarily chose that kind of a relationship fully aware of its consequences.”
The Court added that in such situations, claims that the relationship was based solely on a promise to marry become difficult to sustain.
The bench further noted that expressions of a desire to marry during a relationship do not, by themselves, imply that the relationship was initiated based on such a promise. “Such expressions may occur in any long-term relationship, but they do not necessarily constitute a binding assurance of marriage,” the Court said.
Recognizing the evolving social dynamics, the Court highlighted that live-in relationships have become more common with increasing financial independence among women. “Today, more women are making conscious choices about their lives. Financial independence has enabled them to enter relationships on their own terms,” the bench remarked.
The Court urged that such matters should be approached with sensitivity and awareness of contemporary realities, rather than through rigid legal interpretations. It concluded that courts may infer implied consent from the nature and duration of a live-in relationship when assessing such cases.
