The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday ruled that live-in relationships must be registered with a government-established authority or tribunal until the Union and state governments enact a law on the subject.
A single-judge bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand issued directions to the state government and the Union social welfare and justice secretary to develop a legal format for registration, with compliance required by March 1. The order came in response to a writ petition for protection filed by a married woman from Fatehabad, Haryana, who is in a live-in relationship with a man from Sikar, Rajasthan.
Call for Larger Bench to Address Protection for Live-in Partners
In a separate development, the court also requested the chief justice to form a larger bench to address whether protection should be granted to:
Married individuals cohabiting with unmarried partners
Married persons from different marriages living together without formally dissolving their existing marriages
Need for Legislation on Live-in Relationships
Justice Dhand emphasized that a law on live-in relationships is urgently needed, urging both the Centre and the state government to take legislative action. Until then, he directed that:
A competent authority be set up in each district to register such relationships
A dedicated website be launched to address grievances and disputes arising from live-in relationships
Legal responsibilities be established for both partners, particularly regarding children born from these relationships
Fixing Legal Liabilities for Partners and Children
The High Court also stressed the need to fix liabilities for both male and female partners, particularly regarding:
Education, health, and upbringing of children born from live-in relationships
Financial responsibility of male partners for their non-earning female partners and children
This directive marks a significant step towards regulating live-in relationships in India, ensuring both legal protection and accountability for individuals in such arrangements