Supreme Court to examine maintenance issue in live-in relati

The Supreme Court today said a woman in a live-in relationship cannot be deserted without any security and decided to examine whether she can claim maintenance from a man with whom she was in such a relationship.

A Bench of the court said the issue regarding the maintenance of a woman in live-in relationship involves a larger question of law with the changes in the society.

"Live-in relationship is growing in the society. A live-in partner cannot be deserted without any security as with the changes in the time, live-in relationship is socially accepted now," a Bench of Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly said.

The court appointed senior advocates Altaf Ahmed and PS Patwalia and counsel Shibu Shankar Mishra as amicus curiae in the matter to assist the court and give their suggestions on the issue within six weeks.

The court decided to adjudicate on the issue as the man, who was asked by the High Court to provide maintenance to the live-in partner, has challenged the decision.

The man has claimed that since they were not married, he was under no obligation under law to provide maintenance.