Supreme Court: No Rape Claims in Long-Term Relationships
The Hon’ble Supreme Court has ruled that a woman, in a long-term live-in relationship, may not have the power to claim that she was duped into having physical relations with her partner, under a false pretext of marriage. In live-in relationships, it cannot be concluded that a pledge of marriage is the sole reason for having physical relations.
Case history :
A well-educated woman (who is a lecturer) was in a long-term live-in relationship with a man for 16 years. She accused her partner (a bank official) of rape citing that she was with him, in the relationship, and as a sexual partner, as he had promised to marry her. When the matter came up in the Hon’ble Court, a bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta, denied her plea. They stated that both the woman and her partner were sensible and well-educated mature adults, who were in a consensual relationship. It was also noted that the couple made it a point to be together, visiting each other, even when they were posted in separate towns. The Court said that this was a love affair / long-term live-in relationship, and the accusation was levied by the woman owing to some bitterness in the relationship.
Long-term relationship stipulates the consent of both partners
The bench further stated that it was highly unbelievable that the woman (complainant) did not utter a word and maintained consensual relations with her partner for 16 long years and did not raise any claim that she was being sexually exploited! This was unexpected from such a well-educated woman. This clearly shows that the relationship was consensual and without any force or coercion from any quarter.
False pretext of marriage not a relevant claim
The court further stated that, if at all, the false promise of marriage was considered, as appealed by the complainant, the tenure of the live-in relationship of 16 years made her case weak as she did not speak out in the initial days of the relationship. Being in such a long-term consensual relationship made her plea unconvincing and the court quashed her plea.
It may be seen as an effort on the part of the complainant to get back at her partner owing to some differences and disputes in the relationship.
Legal rulings focus on facts and evidence, but what about a person's mental health? Emotional investment in a long-term relationship can take a serious toll, yet this aspect often goes unnoticed. When a relationship ends on a bitter note, it can leave deep emotional scars. The stress of a legal battle, feelings of betrayal, and prolonged uncertainty can contribute to anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress.
Source: Inputs from various media Sources
