. NEW DELHI: While sympathising with women whose live-in partners have walked out of the relationship, Supreme Court on Monday said courts could not do much as ending a consensual relationship was not an offence.Hearing the plea of a woman who was in a live-in relationship for 15 years, but whose partner married someone else despite a child being born to them, a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said it could not allow her plea for a criminal case of sexual harassment and exploitation against him, as it was a consensual relationship.“There was a consensual relationship and a child was born. Once he walks out, it is not a criminal offence. Where is the question of an offence when the relationship was consensual?” the bench said.The court said there was no legal binding in such a relationship and that people should be careful about the vagaries of live-in relationships.“Why did she go and live with him before marriage? They could have married. Now she is saying sexual assault,” the bench told her lawyer. The woman’s counsel said she was an 18year-old widow when she came in contact with the man, and that she was forced into a physical relationship on the false promise of marriage. She told the bench that the man had marriedfour times.Refusing to go into his alleged misdeeds, the bench said, “We can only sympathise with your client; she got fooled or whatever. She went with him, had a child, and lived with himfor 15 years.”The bench said she could seek maintenance from the man for her eight-year-old child, as he was born out of that relationship. As her lawyer urged the court that mediation could be opted for to seek maintenance, the bench issued notice on that limited issue.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosFour Killed, 70 Hurt As Taliban Blames Pak Strikes, Peace Hopes ShakenNDA Nears 2/3 Majority As NDA Numbers Swell in Rajya Sabha After AAP Exodus’Party Of Billionaires’: Congress Attacks AAP After 7 Rajya Sabha MPs Join BJPIran Attacks Togo-Flagged Tanker With 17 Indian Seafarers Near Oman; All Safe’Once-in-a-Generation’ India Signs Free Trade Agreement With New Zealand After a Decade of Talks’Attack By BJP Goons’: TMC MP Mitali Bag’s Car Vandalised In Hooghly, BJP Denies TMC’s Charge’You Are Married Because AAP Made You Rajya Sabha Member’: Saurabh Bharadwaj Attacks Raghav ChadhaNDA Surges In Rajya Sabha After Chadha-Led AAP Exodus, BJP Nears Majority“Right Man, Wrong Party”: Raghav Chadha Defends Exit From AAP In New Video“Bound To Happen”: Congress MLA’s Take On Trump Event Shooting123Photostories8 small behaviors of people who are always mentally sharp5 animals that breathe through their skin (and why can’t humans do the same)10 baby boy names that symbolise wisdom and intelligenceIs your sedentary lifestyle making your brain age faster than you think?Morning affirmation at 5am: What you must tell yourself todayWhy tadka turns bitter: 5 expert tips for preparing perfect tadka at home10 delicious Indian sweets made with fresh cheesePM Narendra Modi praises 3 desi Indian cheese varieties and asks how many have you triedHow Brahma Muhurta Routines Can Improve Focus, Clarity, and Discipline8 historic landmarks in Mumbai that are more than 100 years old: Why you should visit them123Hot PicksWest Bengal PollsPM ModiMamata BanerjeeRahul GandhiBengal RallyWest Bengal ElectionsMatua CommunityTop TrendingRussini Mike Photo ControversyTamil Nadu electionNFL Trade RumorsPetrol Diesel PriceAssam HS 12th ResultJac Class 12 ResultPatrick MahomesBengal PollsJack GrealishIPL Orange Cap
NEW DELHI: While sympathising with women whose live-in partners have walked out of the relationship, Supreme Court on Monday said courts could not do much as ending a consensual relationship was not an offence.Hearing the plea of a woman who was in a live-in relationship for 15 years, but whose partner married someone else despite a child being born to them, a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said it could not allow her plea for a criminal case of sexual harassment and exploitation against him, as it was a consensual relationship.“There was a consensual relationship and a child was born. Once he walks out, it is not a criminal offence. Where is the question of an offence when the relationship was consensual?” the bench said.The court said there was no legal binding in such a relationship and that people should be careful about the vagaries of live-in relationships.“Why did she go and live with him before marriage? They could have married. Now she is saying sexual assault,” the bench told her lawyer. The woman’s counsel said she was an 18year-old widow when she came in contact with the man, and that she was forced into a physical relationship on the false promise of marriage. She told the bench that the man had marriedfour times.Refusing to go into his alleged misdeeds, the bench said, “We can only sympathise with your client; she got fooled or whatever. She went with him, had a child, and lived with himfor 15 years.”The bench said she could seek maintenance from the man for her eight-year-old child, as he was born out of that relationship. As her lawyer urged the court that mediation could be opted for to seek maintenance, the bench issued notice on that limited issue.
