New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Monday made significant observations regarding physical relationships before marriage while hearing a bail plea in a case related to alleged rape on the pretext of marriage.
A bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing the bail application of a man accused of establishing a physical relationship with a woman after promising to marry her and later marrying another woman.
During the hearing, Justice B.V. Nagarathna remarked that individuals should exercise caution before entering into physical relationships prior to marriage.
“Perhaps we are old-fashioned… but before marriage, a boy and a girl are strangers. Whatever may be good or bad in their relationship, we fail to understand how they can enter into a physical relationship before marriage,” she observed.
The bench further stated, “You must be very careful. You should not trust anyone before marriage.”
The court was informed that the man and the woman met in 2022 through a matrimonial website. According to the prosecution, the accused assured the woman that he would marry her, and based on that promise, she consented to a physical relationship.
The prosecution also alleged that videos of their sexual interactions were recorded without the woman’s consent and that she was threatened with their circulation.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on Wednesday.
