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Crime
Chhattisgarh HC: Refusal to marry not rape in live-in ties
✍️ Moneycontrol.com
🗓 01 Jul 2026, 05:16 AM
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The Chhattisgarh High Court has ruled that a man's refusal to marry a woman after a long-term live-in relationship does not automatically constitute rape.
The Chhattisgarh High Court has clarified that a man's refusal to marry a woman, even after a prolonged live-in relationship, does not inherently amount to rape under Indian law.
The court's observation came during the hearing of a case where the complainant alleged rape, citing the promise of marriage which was later reneged upon. The bench emphasized that for a charge of rape to hold, there must be proof of forced sexual intercourse against the woman's will.
While acknowledging the emotional distress such a situation can cause, the High Court distinguished between a broken promise and the criminal act of rape. The ruling suggests that consent obtained through a false promise of marriage might be a complex legal issue, but the mere act of refusal to marry post-relationship does not meet the stringent definition of rape.
The court's observation came during the hearing of a case where the complainant alleged rape, citing the promise of marriage which was later reneged upon. The bench emphasized that for a charge of rape to hold, there must be proof of forced sexual intercourse against the woman's will.
While acknowledging the emotional distress such a situation can cause, the High Court distinguished between a broken promise and the criminal act of rape. The ruling suggests that consent obtained through a false promise of marriage might be a complex legal issue, but the mere act of refusal to marry post-relationship does not meet the stringent definition of rape.