On Monday, the Supreme Court of India reportedly scrutinized the circumstances in which a young widow entered into a live-in relationship. The apex court was examining a case involving accusations of rape based on an alleged false promise of marriage.
During the hearing, Justice BV Nagarathna asked, “Why did she choose to live with him before marriage?” according to a report by Live Law. She went on to note, “When we raise such questions, we are accused of victim shaming—what is this?”
Counsel for the accused contended that the complainant was in a vulnerable state at the relevant time. He pointed out that the accused met her when she was just an 18-year-old widow and assured her that he would marry her.
The case involves a man applying for bail after being accused of entering into a relationship with the complainant on the promise of marriage.The court’s observations echo remarks made earlier this year. In February, while presiding over a separate matter, Justice Nagarathna had said that relationships before marriage require caution.
‘Maybe we are old fashioned,’ says Nagarathna
In a sharp remark on pre-marital relationships made while considering a bail application in a separate rape case, a bench comprising Justice Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan stated, “Perhaps we are old-fashioned, but before marriage, a boy and a girl are strangers,” according to a report by Live Law.
The bench was hearing the plea of a man accused of raping a woman on the false pretext of marriage.
She went on to question the nature of such relationships, adding, “Whatever may be the thick and thin of their relationship, we fail to understand how they can be indulging in a physical relationship before marriage.”
‘Believe nobody before marriage’
Stressing the need for caution, the judge went on to say, “One must be extremely careful; no one should trust anyone before marriage,” according to the report.
According to the case details, the complainant, around 30 years old, met the man on a matrimonial platform in 2022. The accused is alleged to have repeatedly engaged in physical relations with her, both in Delhi and later in Dubai, on the assurance that he would marry her.
The woman has additionally claimed that she went to Dubai at the man’s urging, where he not only prolonged their relationship but also secretly filmed intimate moments without her permission. She alleged that he later threatened to share these videos if she did not comply with his demands.It was only later that she discovered he had entered into a second marriage on January 19, 2024, in Punjab.