In a keenly-watched judgement last week, the Supreme Court said a man and a woman living together without marriage cannot be construed as an offence. The Court said there was no law which prohibits live-in relationships or pre-marital sex. The observations were made by the apex court while hearing a special leave petition filed by popular South Indian actor Kushboo, who was seeking to get 22 criminal cases filed against her quashed.
The numerous cases had been filed against her after she allegedly endorsed pre-marital sex in interviews to various magazines in 2005. The counsel had alleged that Kushboo’s comments were adversely affecting the minds of young people and pushing them towards sexual promiscuity, and could endanger the country’s value and ethos.
But in court, the three-member bench said, ‘Please tell us what is the offence and under which section. Living together is a right to life,’ while referring to Article 21 which grants Right to Life and Liberty as a Fundamental Right.