Madras High Court Grants 'Wife' Status to Women in Live-In Relationships for Legal Protection

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ruled that women in live-in relationships should be granted the legal status of 'wife' to ensure protection, citing the ancient concept of Gandharva marriage. This ruling arose from a case where a man was accused of engaging in a sexual relationship under false promises of marriage. The court emphasized the vulnerability of women in such relationships, noting that live-in arrangements lack legal safeguards and invoked Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, criminalizing sexual relations obtained by deception.