New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has ruled that not every personal relationship must culminate in marriage, and the breakup of a consensual relationship between adults cannot be treated as a criminal act. Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma made this observation in a judgment delivered on 12 January, emphasizing that such matters should be handled with sensitivity, restraint, and respect for individual freedom.
Key Observations of the Court
The court noted that a responsible adult entering a voluntary romantic relationship must be aware of the uncertainties involved. “It is neither necessary nor guaranteed that every romantic relationship will result in marriage,” the court stated. Many relationships may end for personal, practical, or circumstantial reasons, including incompatibility or a change in personal priorities.
Case Background
The remarks were made while dismissing a rape and SC/ST Act case against a Delhi academician. The FIR had been filed in September 2023 after a long personal relationship ended, with the complainant alleging rape and caste-based harassment. After reviewing WhatsApp conversations and other documents, the court concluded that the relationship had been consensual and that criminal law was misused after the breakup. Allegations of false promises of marriage were also not substantiated by the record.
The court further observed that the accusations were severe and had the potential to damage not only the accused’s reputation but also that of his family.
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