Tagged “live-in-relationship”

2 articles on live-in-relationship.

Dr. Aswin V. Nair v. State of Kerala: a live-in partner is not a "husband" under Section 498A

On 13 July 2024, the Kerala High Court held that "husband" in Section 498A IPC means a married man — a woman's live-in partner, absent a legally recognised marriage, cannot be prosecuted for matrimonial cruelty, and the proceedings against him were quashed.

Valkya Editorial·14 Jun 2026·8 min

Landmark JudgmentSupreme Court of India

Indra Sarma v. V.K.V. Sarma: when a live-in relationship is in the nature of marriage

In 2013 the Supreme Court mapped the multi-factor test for a 'relationship in the nature of marriage' under Section 2(f) of the Domestic Violence Act, holding that knowledge of a partner's subsisting marriage ordinarily defeats the claim.

Valkya Editorial·14 Jun 2026·8 min