The Chhattisgarh High Court held that a long-term live-in relationship between consenting adults creates a presumption of consensual physical relations. The Court ruled that a later refusal to marry cannot automatically amount to rape and dismissed an appeal challenging the accused’s acquittal.
The Supreme Court has held that a consensual physical relationship between two unmarried adults cannot, by itself, be used to question their character. The Court ordered the appointment of a Telangana police constable candidate whose selection was cancelled over a criminal case arising from a failed relationship.
The Kerala High Court questioned whether an unmarried man having multiple consensual sexual relationships can be a ground to deny bail to Rahul Mamkootathil in a rape case. The Court asked the prosecution to clarify whether the alleged incident was consensual or forced, and reserved its order on his anticipatory bail plea.