Chennai: Expressing concern over live-in relationships ‘happening everywhere’ and calling it a ‘cultural shock’, Madras high court said women in such relationships ought to be protected by granting the status of wife.“Live-in relationships are a cultural shock to Indian society, but they are happening widely everywhere. The girls assume that they are modern and opt to live in relationships. But after some time, they realize that the relationship is not granting them any protection as granted under marriage,” said Justice S Srimathy in a recent ruling.Observing that there is absolutely no legal protection for women entering live-in relationships, the judge said a section of women was falling prey to the concept. “They also face mental trauma,” she added.The court made the observations while dismissing an anticipatory bail application moved by a man who was charged with cheating a woman after promising to marry her. During the hearing, the man claimed that he left the girl because her ‘character was not good’.“While, in a live-in relationship, the boys would assume themselves to be modern, they slam the girls on their character for having a live-in relationship,” the judge said.If marriage is not possible, then the men ought to face the wrath of legal provisions, said the judge.Now, the only section that grants protection to women is under Section 69 (fraudulently making a promise to marry without any intention of fulfilling the same to have sexual intercourse with woman) of BNS, and the men ought to face the wrath of Section 69 of BNS, the court said.
