Rajasthan HC tells state to make contracts mandatory for live-in relationships

The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday told the state government to make it mandatory for couples in a live-in relationship to enter into an agreement.

The High Court told the state government to set up an authority or tribunal to register live-in relationships until a law is enacted for it.

The registration process will require couples to furnish details on how they plan to care for any children born from the relationship, as well as the male partner's plan to provide maintenance if the female partner does not earn.

"Though the concept of live-in-relationship is considered immoral by the society and the same is not accepted by [the] public at large, it is not treated as illegal in the eyes of law,” Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand said.

“Minor children born out of such relations are expected to be maintained by their parents and specially by the father, because women from such relations may often be found to be sufferers as well,” the judge said.

The High Court noted that many live-in couples approach the judiciary, as their families and society at large do not accept their relationships. It said that the Centre as well as the Rajasthan government should enact “appropriate legislation” to deal with the subject.

The judge noted that the Uttarakhand government...

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