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 Madras High Court quashed criminal proceedings against two men, holding that merely questioning the legality of police action cannot constitute a criminal offence unless the essential ingredients of the alleged offences are clearly established. The Court found the accusations vague and legally insufficient.
The Delhi High Court has ruled that a daughter-in-law cannot claim an independent right to continue residing in her mother-in-law’s self-acquired property once the residential rights granted to her husband come to an end. The Court held that ownership rights of the mother-in-law cannot be defeated by such residential claims.
The Madras High Court observed that voluntary removal of the thali may, depending on the facts of a case, cause emotional anguish and amount to mental cruelty. However, the Court clarified that removal of the thali is not automatically a ground for divorce and must be assessed in context.
The Allahabad High Court criticized the Lucknow Cyber Cell for its handling of a complaint arising from a matrimonial dispute and asked the husband to explain why damages should not be imposed for an allegedly bogus complaint that led to the prolonged blocking of his wife’s mobile number.
The Allahabad High Court held that Lok Adalats and District Legal Services Authorities cannot grant divorce decrees, ruling that only family courts possess jurisdiction to dissolve marriages, while Lok Adalats are limited to facilitating settlements and lack authority to exercise judicial powers in matrimonial disputes.
The Allahabad High Court held that although some schools of Muslim personal law allow marriage once a person attains puberty, this recognition cannot extend to a live-in relationship. The court clarified that such relationships remain outside recognised boundaries.
Today, On 11th May, The Supreme Court refused to hear a plea challenging Hindu Marriage Act rule letting only the wife seek divorce after a year of no cohabitation. The CJI asked, “Do you think you head the entire male gender group?”
The Supreme Court strongly criticised the Allahabad High Court for refusing bail to a man who has spent almost nine years in jail as an undertrial in a murder case, calling the High Court’s order “shocking and very disappointing.”
Today, On 24th April, The Supreme Court observed that no court can compel a woman, especially a minor, to carry a pregnancy against her will, emphasising reproductive autonomy. It permitted a 15-year-old girl to medically terminate her pregnancy despite crossing seven months gestation.
