In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has scrapped criminal proceedings against a man accused of sexually assaulting a woman over a 16-year-long relationship on the alleged false promise of marriage.

The bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, emphasized that a mere breach of a marriage promise does not amount to rape unless it is proven that the accused never intended to marry the complainant from the outset. “The prolonged period of 16 years during which the sexual relations continued unabatedly between the parties is sufficient to conclude that there was never an element of force or deceit in the relationship,” the court stated, as reported by Live Law.

The complainant, a highly qualified professional, filed an FIR in 2022 after the accused married another woman. She alleged that the accused had forcibly engaged in sexual intercourse with her in 2006 and continued exploiting her under the false pretext of marriage.

However, the Supreme Court found her claims contradictory and inconsistent. “It is hard to believe that the complainant, being a well-placed and educated woman, endured a 16-year-long relationship without raising any protest, only to register an FIR once the appellant married someone else,” the bench remarked. The accused argued that their relationship was consensual, involving cohabitation and informal marriage rituals.

The Supreme Court agreed, stating that there was no evidence to suggest that he had deceived the complainant from the beginning. "The complainant's allegations are riddled with contradictions and are ex facie unbelievable. For 16 years, she remained silent about the alleged abuse until the appellant’s marriage to another woman. Furthermore, she has often portrayed herself as his wife, which contradicts her claims,” the court observed.

Dismissing the High Court’s earlier ruling that upheld the case, the Supreme Court concluded that prosecuting the man would amount to an abuse of the legal process.

Declaring it a case of a “love affair or live-in relationship gone sour,” the court officially dropped all criminal charges against him. However this case has sparked a really mixed reaction from the public with some hailing the verdict as a fair judgment, others criticising it as a setback for justice and consent laws. Voices of Discontent:

"Rape is not about how long the relationship lasted, whether they lived together, or if they were married. It’s about consent—plain and simple."

"Every day, I lose more and more faith in the Indian judicial system."

"Can’t ask for logic in this country."

Support for the Verdict: "Right decision. The law shouldn’t be misused to settle personal scores."

"People say ‘No means no,’ but what if she lies to the police and court? We need proof before punishment. Blindly trusting an allegation is dangerous."

As the ruling continues to fuel debate, it raises broader questions about the complexities of consent, legal interpretations of false promises of marriage, and the potential misuse of laws designed to protect victims.