Woman in Long-Term Live-In Relationship Cannot Claim Rape: Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ruled that a woman in a long-term live-in relationship cannot later claim she was forced into a physical relationship under the false promise of marriage to file rape charges against her partner.  

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta made these observations while quashing criminal proceedings against a bank official accused of rape by his live-in partner. 

The complainant, a woman lecturer, alleged that she had been in a sexual relationship with the accused for 16 years based on his assurance of marriage.  

No Element of Force in 16-Year Relationship, Says Court

The court emphasized that both individuals were well-educated, willingly maintained a consensual relationship, and frequently visited each other’s residences despite living in different towns. The judges ruled that the case reflected either a failed love affair or a live-in relationship that had turned sour, rather than a case of sexual exploitation.  

“It is hard to believe that the complainant kept on bending to the demands of the appellant for a period of nearly 16 years without raising any protest to any quarter that the appellant was exploiting her sexually under the pretext of a false promise of marriage," the court stated.  

Prolonged Relationship Undermines False Promise Claim

The Supreme Court further observed that even if a false promise of marriage was made, the long duration of the relationship weakened the credibility of the claim that consent was solely given under such a pretext.  

“The prolonged period of 16 years during which the sexual relations continued unabatedly between the parties is sufficient to conclude that there was never an element of force or deceit in the relationship,” the ruling added.