The Delhi High Court ruled that educated and independent adults cannot misuse rape laws to criminalise a consensual relationship that later fails. The Court said a breakup alone does not create criminal liability unless a false promise of marriage is clearly proven.
The Delhi High Court has clearly stated that the law cannot be used to turn a failed consensual relationship into a criminal offence, especially when both individuals involved are educated, independent adults who willingly entered the relationship.
Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, while quashing a rape FIR filed against a man by his former partner, observed that in India’s social and cultural setting, many romantic relationships begin with the hope that they may eventually lead to marriage. However, adults must understand that relationships carry uncertainties and do not always end in marriage.
The Court noted that in this case, the man and the woman were in a consensual relationship for nearly four years. During this period, their WhatsApp conversations showed mutual love, voluntary involvement, and regular communication.
The messages also revealed that the two remained in touch even after the alleged incident of rape, which strongly indicated that the relationship was consensual and not forced.
The woman had alleged that the man made a false promise of marriage to persuade her into a sexual relationship. However, the Court found that this allegation was not supported by any material on record.
Justice Sharma stressed that courts must be extremely careful while dealing with rape allegations that arise after the breakdown of long-term consensual relationships, especially when there is no clear evidence that the promise of marriage was false from the very beginning.
The Court observed that such cases often arise after emotional fallout following the end of a relationship. In this context, the judge remarked,
“While many individuals are able to accept the breakdown of a relationship with maturity, there may be cases where emotional distress, disappointment, or wounded feelings influence subsequent actions,”
highlighting that emotional pain should not automatically translate into criminal allegations.
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Emphasising personal responsibility and legal boundaries, the Court further stated,
“An educated and independent adult, upon entering into a consensual relationship, must also recognise that the law cannot be invoked to criminalise the mere failure of a relationship. The dissolution of a relationship, by itself, does not give rise to criminal liability. Such matters must be approached with sensitivity, restraint, and due respect for the autonomy and choices of both individuals involved,”
making it clear that criminal law should not be misused as a tool for personal grievance after a breakup.
The woman had also claimed that the man made a caste-related remark and forcibly established a physical relationship with her, leading to the invocation of provisions under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
However, the Court rejected this allegation as well, noting that the verified WhatsApp chats did not show any caste-based abuse or behaviour suggesting that the alleged offence was linked to the woman’s caste identity.
According to the Court, the conversations showed that the man spoke to the woman in a normal and respectful manner throughout their interactions. There was no material to indicate any caste-based insult, humiliation, or intention to target her because of her caste.
Based on these findings, the Delhi High Court concluded that continuing criminal proceedings in such circumstances would amount to misuse of the legal process.
The FIR was therefore quashed, reinforcing the principle that consensual relationships, even when they fail, cannot automatically be converted into criminal cases unless there is clear evidence of deception, coercion, or abuse from the outset.
This judgment once again underlines the judiciary’s consistent stand that criminal law must protect genuine victims, while also safeguarding individuals from false or emotionally driven prosecutions arising out of broken relationships.
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