Rajasthan High Court Rules That Live-in Relationships Must Be Legally Recognized
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- 24 Mar 2025 --
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In a powerful affirmation of individual freedoms and evolving social norms, the Rajasthan High Court has delivered a landmark ruling stating that live-in relationships must be recognized under the law and that couples in such arrangements are entitled to the same legal protections as married individuals.
This decision came in response to a case involving a young woman who sought police protection after facing threats from her family due to her live-in relationship. Her request was initially denied, highlighting a persistent gap between modern personal choices and the institutional support available for them.
But the court’s decision has now changed the tide.
The Court’s Observations
Justice Vijay Kumar Vyas, presiding over the case, observed that the Constitution guarantees personal liberty and dignity, and no adult individual should be punished for making consensual choices about their private life. He stated:
“Article 21 of the Constitution protects the right to life and personal liberty. This includes the right to cohabit with a partner of one’s choice, irrespective of marital status.”
In his judgment, Justice Vyas made it clear that law enforcement agencies have a duty to protect live-in partners from societal harassment, familial threats, and violence—just as they would in the case of married couples. Denying such protection, he stated, would be a violation of the couple’s fundamental rights.
Beyond Cohabitation: Legal Protections Expanded
What makes this ruling even more significant is the Court’s recommendation that legal protections typically available in marital relationships—such as those under the Domestic Violence Act—should also extend to live-in partners. These include:
Right to Protection from Abuse – The Domestic Violence Act’s safeguards against emotional, verbal, or physical abuse apply equally in live-in arrangements.
Right to Maintenance – Financial dependence in long-term partnerships should be addressed with dignity, even outside the traditional marital framework.
Right to Property and Custody – Shared property rights and issues related to child custody (if any) must be adjudicated on equitable grounds.
The verdict also emphasized the need for police departments to adopt a uniform protocol in cases involving harassment or threats against couples in live-in relationships, without questioning the legitimacy of their partnership.
Implications and Reactions
The ruling has been welcomed by legal experts, women’s rights groups, and social reformers as a bold step forward in aligning India’s laws with the realities of modern relationships. Live-in relationships, while still stigmatized in many parts of India, are increasingly common in urban and semi-urban areas.
Legal scholar Meera Srivastava called the verdict “a leap toward an inclusive society where love and companionship are not judged through the prism of tradition alone.”
However, conservative voices have expressed discomfort, suggesting that such rulings may undermine the institution of marriage. Critics argue that this could “erode family values,” but the Court has stood firm that the Constitution protects personal liberty above all else.
A Sign of Changing Times
This is not the first time the judiciary has backed individual freedom in matters of personal relationships. Earlier verdicts by the Supreme Court and various High Courts have recognized the right of consenting adults to choose their partners, even against family or societal opposition.
But the Rajasthan High Court’s judgment is among the first to explicitly connect this right with access to broader legal protections—blurring the rigid line between “married” and “unmarried” in legal discourse.
It sends a clear message: the law cannot ignore the evolving realities of personal relationships. Justice must not only protect the tra
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