Lagatar24 Desk
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled against granting protection to married individuals seeking to enter live-in relationships, stating that such actions promote “wrongdoers” and the practice of bigamy. Justice Sandeep Moudgil highlighted that this decision is necessary to uphold family values and the right of parents to live with dignity and honor.
The court’s decision came in response to several petitions, including one filed by a 40-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man, who sought protection from their families while living together. Despite the woman being divorced, the man is still married with children. The court noted that the petitioners were fully aware of their marital statuses and could not justifiably enter a live-in relationship.
“All live-in relationships are not relationships in the nature of marriage,” the court observed, emphasizing that recognizing such relationships as marriages would be unjust to the man’s wife and children.
Justice Moudgil underscored the significance of marriage as a social institution that provides security and plays a crucial role in raising children. The court noted that marriage creates moral and legal obligations, including the reciprocal duty of support between spouses and their joint responsibility for their children.
Under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, individuals have the right to live with peace, dignity, and honor. The court stated that by allowing such petitions, it would be encouraging wrongdoing and promoting bigamy, which is an offense under Section 494 of the Indian Penal Code. The petitioners’ actions were also seen as violating the rights of their parents to live with dignity.
The court further mentioned that simply living together for a few days does not constitute a live-in relationship, and directing the police to grant protection could indirectly endorse such illicit relationships. Justice Moudgil emphasized that marriage is a crucial social tie in India, integral to maintaining moral values and customs.
India, with its deep cultural roots, places significant importance on morals and ethical reasoning, the judge observed. While acknowledging the influence of Western culture, the court stressed that marriage is a sacred relationship with legal and social consequences that should be upheld.
In conclusion, the court’s ruling aims to protect the sanctity of marriage and the rights of all individuals involved, reinforcing the importance of traditional family structures and ethical values in Indian society.
