New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ruled that women who live in a relationship resembling that of husband and wife, even without a formal marriage, can seek protection under the domestic violence law.
The case arose from Karnataka, where a doctor, Lokesh, allegedly concealed his first marriage and lived with another woman in a “live-in” arrangement. The woman later filed a police complaint under the domestic violence law, alleging dowry-related harassment, cruelty and an attempt to kill her by setting her on fire.
The Karnataka High Court held that the relevant provision applies not only to valid marriages and divorced relationships, but can also extend protection to women in live-in relationships.
Challenging this, Lokesh approached the Supreme Court. A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and N. Kotiswar Singh upheld the High Court’s decision, while also laying down restrictions on the use of the provision.
The court clarified that the protection does not automatically cover every live-in relationship. It applies only where the partners live in a social and family set-up akin to marriage, with a mutual intention to marry.
