“Live-In Relationships Encountering Pressing Issues In India”

Abstract

“Live-in relationship” in common parlance  means  “unbroken cohabitation" between couples without the legal recognition of marriage, in which they live together in a "shared household". In this modern  dynamic world  ‘live-in-relationships’ are drastically  achieving popularity, especially amongst the youth who seek freedom, newness and  compatibility. There are various types of live-in partnerships. . First, heterosexual couples' premarital live-in relationships.  Second, a "wedded man" and a "unmarried or wedded woman" who are living together, and vice versa. In a third place, same-sex "live-in relationships". As the  live-in  partners indulge into  sexual cohabitation birth of  children (mostly in cases of  hetero-sexual couples) are an  inevitable consequence.  Unfortunately, in  Indian  there  is  scarcity   of legislation  giving recognition ,  protection and preserving the interest   neither to  the live-in partners nor  to their  children.    The Protection of Woman  from  Domestic Violence  Act, 2005, although  for a limited  purpose, is the first Indian legislation that brought a female partner of live-in-relationship  within its sweep. Indian Judiciary   by  way of its  various pronouncements  has lifted  the stigma of  illicitness from the live-in relationships  but  there are  multiple  aspects  which   have been  left  untouched, such  as  recognition  of   live-in partners as  separate  class  in government  documents,  inclusion of  live-in partners  for adoption purposes, giving  equal the  rights to the children  born  to live-parents  to  inherit ancestral   property  or  to participate  in  joint  family  business etc.    Apart  from these , in  coming days  surely several other issues  would  come out. There  is  no  turning back. These issues   can  be addressed   only  by  way of  far  sighted  and unambiguous legislation and  clearer  interpretation of words of statues .