The Bombay High Court held that a long-term intimate partnership marked by repeated cohabitation and child birth amounts to a relationship in the nature of marriage under the DV Act. It refused to quash the case against him.
The High Court emphasized the need to address the societal implications of live-in relationships, stating, “It is high time we consider and establish a framework to uphold the moral values of society.” The court highlighted growing concerns over the impact of such relationships on traditional norms. It called for a collective effort to find solutions that balance individual freedoms with cultural ethics.