---
title: "Supreme Court Extends Domestic Cruelty Protection to Live-in Couples"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/supreme-court-domestic-cruelty-live-in-relationships-law-3x31n
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Politics
published: 2026-08-12T05:00:21.197Z
modified: 2026-08-12T08:00:12.755Z
language: en-IN
---

# Supreme Court Extends Domestic Cruelty Protection to Live-in Couples

The Supreme Court has ruled that protections against domestic cruelty under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code are not limited to legally married women. This decision expands the scope of the law to include individuals in live-in relationships.

## Key takeaways

- The Supreme Court has determined that legal protections against domestic cruelty under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code are not exclusive to married women.
- This ruling extends these protections to individuals in live-in relationships.
- The decision came from the Supreme Court's consideration of a case involving a man in a live-in relationship.

## What Happened

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, which addresses domestic cruelty, applies to individuals in live-in relationships, not exclusively to legally married couples.

The court considered this question in the case of Dr Lokesh B.H. & Ors v. State of Karnataka & Anr. The appellant, accused of domestic cruelty, argued that the section's protection, which uses the term "husband," should only apply in cases of legally valid marriage. He contended that since he and the complainant were not married, the criminal proceedings against him should be halted.

The Karnataka High Court had previously rejected this argument, allowing criminal proceedings to continue. The case was brought before the Supreme Court on appeal.

## Key Facts

- The Supreme Court decided in Dr Lokesh B.H. & Ors v. State of Karnataka & Anr on August 3, 2026.

- The case concerned the applicability of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to men in live-in relationships.

- The appellant argued that Section 498A was only applicable to legally married women, as the term "husband" implies a valid marriage.

- The Karnataka High Court had previously refused to quash criminal proceedings against the appellant.

- The Supreme Court's ruling stated that protection under Section 498A is not confined to legally married women.

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/supreme-court-domestic-cruelty-live-in-relationships-law-3x31n
Reported from: Multiple Sources