live-in-relationship is permissible only in unmarried major persons of heterogeneous s*x.
While it is true that the mainstream view in our society is that s*xual contact should take place only between marital partners, there is no statutory offence that takes place when adults willingly engage in s*xual relations outside the marital setting, with the exception of `adultery' as defined under Section 497 IPC. At this juncture, we may refer to the decision given by this Court in Lata Singh Vs. State of U.P. & Anr., AIR 2006 SC 2522, wherein it was observed that a live-in relationship between two consenting adults of heterogenic s*x does not amount to any offence (with the obvious exception of `adultery'), even though it may be perceived as immoral.
Supreme Court of India
S. Khushboo vs Kanniammal & Anr. on 28 April, 2010
Bench: K.G. Balakrishnan, Deepak Verma, B.S. Chauhan
