Protection for live-in couples a tacit nod to ‘illicit ties’, says High Court | India News – Times of India

CHANDIGARH: Punjab and Haryana HC has declined police protection for a couple who claimed to be in a live-in relationship, saying “bald averments” may not be enough to establish the exact nature of their ties.
According to HC, directing police protection in these cases may indirectly give assent to such “illicit relationships”. The woman is around 40 and a divorcee with children.The man, 44, is still married and has grown-up children.
Passing the order, Justice Sandeep Maudgil emphasised marriage as an essential pillar of society in a diverse country like India. The couple had sought directions to protect their life and liberty and to restrain their families from threatening or interfering in their relationship.
“Marriage is a holy relationship with legal consequences and great social esteem. Our country, with its deep cultural origins, places a significant emphasis on morals and ethical reasoning. However, we have begun to adopt western culture, which is vastly different from Indian culture. A portion of India appears to have adopted a modern lifestyle, namely, live-in relationship,” Justice Maudgil observed. tnn