Live-in relationships in Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula (Tricity) are legally recognized, with the Punjab and Haryana High Court consistently granting protection to consenting adult couples facing societal or familial threats. While not illegal, couples often face challenges with conservative landlords and societal pressure.
Chandigarh: Live-in relationship failures in Haryana frequently involve legal challenges due to societal stigma. Key Reasons for failure include familial pressure, lack of social acceptance, illegal complications arising from ‘illegal’ or ‘immoral relationship. Even the Punjab and Haryana High Court often denies protection to couples where one partner is already married, or if a minor is involved. In most of the cases live-in relationships are seen as disastrous. Aashu was in a live-in relationship with her childhood best friend cum lover. They lived together for over 3 years and then got separated. Now they are not even friends. Not even on talking terms with each other. What more disastrous it can be than losing your best friend and lover at the same time. In fact the live- in-relationship concept is western culture. And when we don’t align ourselves with our own culture it will always be disastrous. The main reasons for failure to live in a relationship generally include Societal pressure, Moral obligation, Personal interests or anything which is not easily replaceable. However, a separation is disastrous as it gives emotional pain when our expectations aren’t met.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has specifically ruled that if one partner is already married, the relationship is seen as bigamy, rendering it invalid and a common reason for legal intervention. Cases of Minority of Partners are frequently dismissed if one partner is a minor, as courts cannot sanction such relationships, often leading to separation. As usually seen Social and Family Opposition by community members often leading to threats cause severe stress and failure in such relationships. Punjab and Haryana High Court rulings have occasionally deemed live-in relationships as ‘morally and socially unacceptable’ providing no legal protection for the partnership itself. The Punjab and Haryana High Court rejected the 2025 Case of minor couples where the girl was below 18 years old. Plea was dismissed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2024 cases involving a petitioner already married, reinforcing that “immoral” relationships cannot be protected. Punjab and Haryana HC stated that live-in relationships without a divorce decree for either partner could be considered a criminal offence. Courts often refuse police protection, which makes the couple vulnerable to family pressure. Social Stigma is another reason: Women in particular often face significant, societal scrutiny and defamation upon the breakup of the relationship.
Live-in relationships are not explicitly defined under Indian statutory law. However, judicial interpretations have progressively recognized and provided legal protections to partners in such relationships. Courts have emphasized that while live-in relationships do not hold the same status as marriage, they are not illegal and can offer specific legal safeguards, particularly for women. However, Legal Protections Under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 extends legal protection to women in live-in relationships under Section 2(f), which defines that women facing domestic violence in a live-in arrangement can seek legal remedies similar to those available to married women, including protection orders, residence rights, and monetary relief. Indian courts have played a crucial role in shaping the legal recognition of live-in relationships. There are a large number of such cases in which the Court ruled that live-in relationships are not illegal and that living together is a right to life, which included social recognition of the couple as spouses, where both partners must be of legal marriageable age and unmarried. They warranted legal protection, particularly to prevent the exploitation of women and ensure their financial and social security, to have legal rights and protections to partners, particularly to safeguard women and children from potential vulnerabilities. Indian courts have acknowledged these rights through various legal provisions and judicial interpretations, ensuring financial security, protection from abuse, and inheritance rights for children.
Women in live-in relationships are entitled to legal protection against domestic violence under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA). Section 2(f) of the Act includes live-in relationships under the definition of ‘domestic relationships’, allowing women to seek protection orders in cases of: Physical abuse – Assault or infliction of bodily harm, Emotional and psychological abuse – Harassment, verbal abuse, or mental torture, Sexual abuse – Non-consensual or forced intimacy and Economic abuse – Deprivation of financial resources, property, or means of livelihood. A woman in a live-in relationship can file a complaint under PWDVA and seek restraining orders, residence rights, and monetary relief, similar to a legally married wife. Under Section 144 of the BNSS, wives are entitled to claim maintenance from their husbands. Courts have extended this provision to include women in live-in relationships that resemble marriage.
In a Supreme Court case, it ruled that a woman in a live-in relationship is entitled to maintenance if the relationship meets the criteria of a marriage-like partnership considering the duration of the relationship, whether the partners cohabit as a married couple, the financial dependency of one partner on the other, whether the woman partner was misled into believing she was legally married and If these conditions are met, a woman can seek monthly maintenance to ensure financial stability after the dissolution of the relationship. However, property rights of live-in partners do not automatically acquire rights over each other’s property, as is the case in legal marriages. In cases where a partner can prove financial involvement in purchasing or maintaining a property, courts may recognize their beneficial interest in the asset considerations include: whether the property was jointly acquired, whether both partners contributed financially (directly or indirectly), whether there was a verbal or written agreement regarding shared ownership. In disputes, courts assess factors such as joint financial transactions, shared expenses and proof of cohabitation to determine property rights.
Children born out of live-in relationships are deemed legitimate under Indian law and possess equal inheritance rights as children born within marriage. However, children born from live-in relationships can inherit property from both biological parents under the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, and relevant personal laws for other communities. As regards guardianship and custody, a mother in a live-in relationship has primary custody rights, and the father can seek custody or visitation rights under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890. Under Section 144 of the BNSS, children from live-in relationships can claim maintenance from their biological father so that a child should not suffer legal disadvantages due to the nature of their parents’ relationship.
According to a study in the Tricity region, comprising Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Mohali has revealed a rise in live-in relationships due to changing societal norms, urbanization, and increasing professional opportunities. While the legal framework provides certain protections to individuals in such relationships, there are specific legal and social implications that partners should be aware of legal assistance for issues related to maintenance claims, domestic abuse, property disputes, and child custody. The Punjab and Haryana High Court adheres to the precedents set by the Supreme Court of India, ensuring that individuals in live-in relationships can access justice under relevant legal provisions. If a legal dispute arises, individuals should seek assistance from lawyers who specialize in Family Law (covering maintenance claims, child custody, and domestic abuse cases), Property Law (handling disputes over property jointly acquired or financially contributed to by a partner), Criminal Law (addressing cases related to harassment, domestic violence or wrongful claims) since live-in relationships do not hold the same legal status as marriage, having proper documentation can be crucial in case of disputes or legal proceedings.
