Live-in Relationships
From Judicial Recognition to Compulsory State Registration
Indian law historically addressed live-in relationships through judicial interpretation rather than a registration statute, reading protections into existing laws rather than mandating registration.
- In S. Khushboo v. Kanniammal (2010), the Supreme Court held that live-in relationships between consenting adults are not illegal and fall within the right to personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21
- The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, already extends maintenance and protection to women in a "relationship in the nature of marriage," without requiring formal registration
- Uttarakhand's UCC, 2024, was the first law to make registration compulsory with criminal penalties, requiring a "statement of live-in relationship" within 30 days of commencing cohabitation
- Madhya Pradesh's draft follows a similar registration-with-penalty model, allowing a one-month window before non-registration becomes punishable
● Tracked since March 24, 2026 · last seen July 19, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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