The Allahabad High Court yesterday, dismissed a plea seeking police protection filed by a married woman living with her partner. The woman, aged 37, had voluntarily entered a live-in relationship due to her husband’s alleged apathetic behavior. She claimed that her husband was attempting to endanger their peaceful lives, thus necessitating police protection.
Justice Renu Agarwal, presiding over the case, emphasized that a live-in relationship cannot be allowed at the cost of the social fabric of the country. The judge stated,
…this Court does not deem it proper to permit the parties to such illegality as tomorrow petitioners may convey that we have sanctified their illicit, relations. Live-in-relationship cannot be at the cost of the social fabric of this Country. Directing the police to grant protection to them may indirectly give our assent to such illicit relations.
The court clarified that it is not against live-in relationships per se, but against illegal relations.
The state counsel opposed the plea, asserting that such relationships cannot be supported by the court. The counsel referred to a previous case, Aneeta and another Vs. The state of U.P. and others, where a division bench of the high court had disapproved of similar acts. In that case, the court had dismissed the protection plea of a married woman living with her partner and imposed an exemplary cost of Rs.5,000.
Taking into account the ruling in the Aneeta case, Justice Agarwal dismissed the current plea, reiterating that such a relationship cannot be allowed to exist at the cost of society’s fabric. The case, titled Suneeta And Another vs. State Of U P And 3 Others, adds to the ongoing legal discourse around the legitimacy and societal implications of live-in relationships in India.