Live-in relationships are always seen in a skeptical way in Indian society and the recent crimes of live-in partners killing each other have only worsened the opinion of them. The marriage laws don't apply to live-in couples which often complicates their legal cases just like how Kerala High Court mentioned recently.
Marriage is an institution that is considered important to establish a romantic relationship. Society considers it an important label, a proof, and a justification for a relationship and even shames people for opting to not get married or choose live-in relationships. However, social stereotypes are not the only hiccup in live-in relationships because the legal framework also doesn't do much to help them. Kerala High Court recently acknowledged the fact that marriage laws cannot be applied to live-in relationships while hearing a divorce petition of a live-in couple.
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Kerala HC On Live-In Divorce
The court bench headed by justices Sophy Thomas and A Muhamed Mustaque was hearing a divorce petition of an interfaith live-in couple, a Hindu and a Christian, who got married through a registered agreement in 2006 and had a child together. The court observed that since the couple was not married according to the legal norms of marriage and since divorce is a means of separation for legal relationships, it is not possible in live-in relations.
Recently, there have been many cases that have given stereotypical people to blame live-in relationships like Shraddha Walker's murder case. However, such cases don't happen because of live-in relationships, they happen when people think they have the authority to do anything just because they are not bound by a legal promise. The fact that marriage laws don't apply to live-in relationships is a major reason why these people think they can get away with crimes like domestic abuse and forcing partners for financial favour.
It is true that laws can't be applied to relationships that are not established under legal obligations. However, we cannot deny the existence of relationships and living situations just because they don't fit into certain criteria. We need laws that can be applied to live-in relationships as well so that people don't feel like they can do anything just because it is a non-legal arrangement.
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