The Punjab and Haryana High Court held that live-in couples can seek protection even if one partner is married, as the right to life and liberty includes personal choice. Courts, however, must also ensure the well-being of minor children.
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that a long-standing consensual physical relationship without deception does not amount to rape under IPC Section 375, quashing rape and extortion charges against the accused.
The Kerala High Court ruled that consensual sex without a “misconception of fact” does not amount to rape. It quashed charges against a man, holding that the relationship was voluntary and based on mutual consent.
The Bombay High Court quashed a rape FIR against a man accused of deceiving a woman with a false promise of marriage. The court ruled that the relationship was consensual, both families had discussed marriage, and there was no evidence of bad faith from the start.
The Allahabad High Court has upheld the acquittal of a man accused of rape, ruling that the burden of proof lies on both partners. The court noted that the complainant had maintained a consensual relationship for five years and failed to prove her allegations.
The Karnataka High Court has ruled that the POCSO Act is gender neutral and applies to both men and women. It refused to quash the FIR against a 52-year-old woman accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy in Bengaluru.
The Calcutta High Court ruled that using words like “sweety” or “baby” does not always amount to sexual harassment. The court stressed the need to avoid reverse bias against male accused and upheld the Internal Complaints Committee’s decision clearing the respondent.
A 20-year-old youth accused of rape was found dead in Noida police custody, sparking outrage. Police personnel were suspended, and an FIR for abetment to suicide was registered against the complainant woman.
The Supreme Court dissolved a marriage citing irretrievable breakdown and ordered the husband to pay ₹1.25 crore alimony to his wife. The settlement will be paid in five instalments, ensuring closure after 15 years of litigation.
The Calcutta High Court has ruled that DNA evidence alone is not conclusive in rape cases, upholding the trial against an accused despite a report excluding him as the child’s father.
