"Hare-brained petitions": Supreme Court rejects PIL seeking registration, social security for persons in live-in relationships

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking directions to the Central government to formulate guidelines for registration of live-in relationships and for social security of citizens who are in such relationships [Mamta Rani vs Union of India]..A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala said that the petition was misconceived and also questioned the intent of the petitioner."Are you trying to foster the security of these people or not let people be in live in relationships? Costs should be imposed on these petitions. Just hare-brained petitions; that is all," the CJI remarked before dismissing the plea..The plea filed by advocate Mamta Rani prayed that those in live-in relationships should be granted social equality and security.The petition said that the courts have always worked for giving protection to all the citizens of the country, including live-in partners, and have passed numerous judgments that protect the members of the live-in partnership, be it women, men, or children born out of such relationships."Time and again this Hon’ble Court has been the protector of the live-in partners and has passed numerous number of judgments which is having the effect of giving protection to the members of the live-in partnership be it the women, men or even the children born out of such relationship," the plea said.The petitioner submitted that the failure to register live-in partnerships violates the constitutional rights to live freely (Article 19) and the right to protection of life (Article 21) and personal liberty.The plea also pressed for framing laws to govern live-in relationships and the urgent need for the Central government to create a database to find out the exact number of people who are in live-in relationships in the country.The petitioner contended that this can only be achieved by making registration of live-in partnerships compulsory.The petitioner also submitted that there has been a vast increase in crimes committed by live-in partners, including major crimes like rape and murder, due to the absence of rules and guidelines covering live-in partnerships..[Read order]