Although live-in relationships have no social
sanction, the youths' attraction to it demands there must be devised some
framework or solution to save "moral values" of the society, the
Allahabad High Court has observed.
Justice Nalin Kumar Srivastava made the observation
while granting bail to Varanasi-based Akash Keshari, who was booked under
various sections of IPC and SC/ST Act for allegedly establishing physical
relations with a woman on pretext of marriage.
Keshari allegedly refused to marry the person, who
approached Sarnath Police Station of Varanasi district.
"So far as the live-in relationship is
concerned, it has got no social sanction but since the youth is attracted to
such relations because a young person, male or female, can easily escape from
his or her liability to his or her partner, their attraction is rapidly
increasing in favour of such relations.
"It is high time we all thought and tried to
find out some framework and solution to save the moral values of the
society," the court observed while granting bail to the applicant.
Earlier, Keshari's counsel argued that the
prosecution's story was false as the woman was a major and the relationship
between them was consensual.
It was also submitted that she was in a live-in
relationship with the appellant for about six years and the alleged abortion
never happened.
The lawyer also submitted that the accused never
promised to marry the woman.