Key information
Summary
The Supreme Court adjudicated upon a crucial penal question regarding whether
statutory protections against domestic cruelty under Section 498A of the IPC could
be extended to women residing in long-term live-in relationships. The respondent
state argued that Section 498A specifically requires formal legal solemnization of
marriage, contending that expanding statutory definitions to non-marital
cohabitations would exceed legislative intent.
Evaluating the constitutional guarantees under Article 14 (Right to Equality) and
Article 21 (Protection of Life and Personal Liberty), the Supreme Court delivered
a progressive ruling holding that excluding women in live-in relationships “in the
nature of marriage” from domestic cruelty protections is unconstitutional and
discriminatory. The Bench observed that statutory interpretation must evolve with
social reality, noting that physical and emotional abuse within stable domestic
cohabitations cannot be left without criminal remedies merely due to the absence of
formal legal rites.
Setting aside narrow technical interpretations, the apex court held that partners in
long-term cohabitation arrangements mimicking marital dynamics are entitled to file
complaints against domestic cruelty under penal law. The Court directed trial courts
nationwide to assess domestic cruelty allegations in live-in setups based on the
duration, shared household parameters, and nature of the relationship, ensuring
comprehensive protection for women.
