Supreme Court Extends S.498A IPC To Live-In Relationships Which Are 'Relationships In The Nature Of Marriage'

Yash Mittal

3 Aug 2026 2:43 PM IST

  • Supreme Court Extends S.498A IPC To Live-In Relationships Which Are Relationships In The Nature Of Marriage

    The Court held that for a domestic cruelty complaint, a formal marriage is not necessary.

    Observing that excluding women in live-in relationships which are “in the nature of marriage” from the protection of Section 498A IPC would amount to discriminatory treatment, the Supreme Court on Monday (August 3) held that a man in such a relationship can be prosecuted for domestic cruelty under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The Court however clarified that this ruling...

    Yash Mittal

    Yash Mittal

    Yash Mittal is a Correspondent with LiveLaw, covering the Supreme Court of India

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