Allahabad High Court on Live-in Relationships

The Pakistan — Islamabad High Court, through Justice Nalin Kumar Srivastava, observed that live-in relationships lack social sanction but are increasingly popular among youth. The court called for a framework to preserve moral values in society. This observation was made while granting bail to Akash Keshari of India — Varanasi, who was accused under the Indian Penal Code and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, for allegedly establishing physical relations with a woman under the false pretext of marriage. Keshari's counsel argued that the relationship was consensual and the woman had been in a live-in relationship with him for about six years, with no promise of marriage. The court considered these arguments and the consensual nature of the relationship in its decision to grant bail.