Karnataka High Court quashes rape case, says breakup doesn't make sex criminal

The Karnataka High Court has set aside a pending rape case, holding that the termination of a personal relationship does not retroactively criminalise consensual sexual activity. The bench emphasized that consent at the time of the act is the decisive factor, not subsequent emotional developments. By overturning the lower court's conviction, the judges clarified that a breakup cannot be used to recharacterise a lawful encounter as rape. Legal experts note that the ruling reaffirms established jurisprudence on consent and may influence future cases involving similar factual matrices. The decision underscores the court's commitment to applying a consistent legal standard irrespective of societal pressures surrounding personal relationships.