Recent Lucknow High Court Case:
A Muslim man (Mohammed Shadab Khan) in a live-in relationship with a woman (Sneha Devi) sought police protection from her parents who filed a kidnapping case.
The court denied protection as Khan was already married to someone else.
The court stated live-in relationships are not permissible under Islam for married individuals.
However, the court acknowledged the potential for constitutional protection (Article 21) for unmarried couples in live-in relationships.
Previous Court Orders on Live-in Relationships:
November 2023: Supreme Court stayed a Gujarat HC order granting maintenance to a woman in a live-in relationship with a married man. (Both partners were married to others).
November 2023: Punjab and Haryana HC denied protection to a couple living together while married to others. (Classified as adultery, not a live-in relationship).
Current Legal Status of Live-in Relationships in India:
No specific law governs live-in relationships.
Supreme Court recognizes the right of consenting adults to live together (unmarried) under Article 21 (protection of life and liberty).
Long-term, stable live-in relationships with children might be recognized as marriages by courts.
Key Takeaways:
The legal status of live-in relationships in India is complex and evolving.
Religious considerations might influence court decisions (as seen in the Lucknow case).
The concept of live-in relationships is gaining legal acceptance, but with limitations.
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