Kerala HC Rules Cruelty Law Inapplicable to Live-in Relationships

The Kerala High Court ruled that Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, which penalizes cruelty against a wife by her husband or his relatives, does not apply to couples in live-in relationships. The court quashed proceedings against a man accused of cruelty by his live-in partner, highlighting that the law only applies to legally married couples.

The Kerala High Court has ruled that Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which penalizes cruelty against a wife by her husband or his relatives, does not apply to live-in relationships.

The court clarified that the term 'husband' as used in Section 498A refers to a legally wedded man, thereby excluding men in live-in relationships from its application.

The ruling came in response to a man's plea seeking to quash proceedings against him for allegedly subjecting his live-in partner to mental and physical harassment. The court ruled in favor of the petitioner, emphasizing that without a legal marriage, the term 'husband' cannot be applied, rendering the charges under Section 498A invalid.