The Madhya Pradesh High Court has made a groundbreaking decision, reinforcing the rights of women in live-in relationships by establishing that they are entitled to receive maintenance from their partners after separation, even without a formal marriage.
The ruling came as a response to a petitioner who challenged a trial court order requiring him to pay a monthly allowance of ₹ 1,500 to a woman with whom he had been in a live-in relationship.
Highlighting the modern recognition of live-in relationships, the court asserted that maintenance should not be withheld if there is proof of long-term cohabitation akin to a marital relationship.
This was supported by the trial court’s observations, which recognized the couple’s living arrangement as similar to that of husband and wife, further corroborated by the birth of their child.
This pivotal ruling reflects the shifting judicial perspective towards live-in relationships in India, acknowledging the necessity to protect the rights and well-being of women in such unions.
Earlier, Uttarakhand introduced a uniform civil code aiming to standardize laws related to marriage, divorce, property, and inheritance for all its citizens, marking a significant legislative step. Notably, this code includes provisions for the mandatory registration of live-in relationships and stipulates parental notification for couples below the age of 21, highlighting the evolving legal framework around personal relationships in India.