Married persons can’t be in a live-in relationship without obtaining divorce: Allahabad HC

PRAYAGRAJ: (Mar 29) The Allahabad High Court has observed that if a petitioner is already married and his/her spouse is alive, he/she cannot legally enter into a live-in relationship with a third person without obtaining a divorce from the earlier spouse.

A single-judge bench of Justice Vivek Kumar Singh said the court cannot issue any writ or direction for protection to the petitioners who are in a live-in relationship, without obtaining a decree of divorce from a competent court.

However, the court said that if the petitioners are disturbed or subjected to any act of violence, they may approach the SSP concerned by submitting a detailed application.