Supreme Court Extends Section 498A Domestic Cruelty Law to Live-In Relationships
Supreme Court Expands Section 498A to Include Live-In Partners
The Supreme Court of India has extended the scope of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code to include women in live-in relationships.
Reports from The Times of India, Live Law, The Telegraph, The Hindu, and NDTV confirm the ruling. It broadens the legal definition of domestic abuse to cover relationships that are in the nature of marriage.
Extending the Protective Umbrella of Anti-Cruelty Statutes
Under the updated interpretation by the apex court, female partners in live-in arrangements can now seek legal recourse.
According to The Hindu, the court determined that the protective umbrella of the anti-cruelty statute applies to individuals who cohabit in arrangements resembling traditional marital unions. This ensures that partners outside formal marriage retain access to criminal justice remedies against domestic abuse.