The Allahabad High Court recently granted bail to a man accused of sexually exploiting a woman on the false promise of marriage. The bench, led by Justice Siddharth, observed that live-in relationships go against the “settled law in the Indian Middle Class Society.” The judge expressed concern over the rise in such cases, stating that the concept, although legalised by the Supreme Court, often leads to emotional and social harm, particularly for women. The Court noted that men usually move on or marry again, while women struggle to find partners after such breakups. The case involved the accused, booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the POCSO Act for allegedly engaging in a physical relationship with the woman under a false assurance of marriage.
The informant’s counsel argued that the accused ruined the woman’s chances of future marriage. Despite this, the Court granted bail, considering the accused’s custody since February 25, lack of prior criminal history, and overcrowding in jails. The Court highlighted that the younger generation’s attraction to live-in relationships often results in serious consequences, as seen in this case.
