Where's The Money, Honey? - [Live-in Relationships]

Source : The Times of India  11 Jan, 2007 2132hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK

RIDDHIMA SEAL

The proposal to grant alimony to women who have been shunned by their partners in live-in relationships has received mixed responses.

A relationship that is still much debated about, a relationship that is much frowned at, but certainly a relationship that cannot be ignored in today's society. Yes, you got that right. Live-in relationships are most certainly what we are talking about. Love them or hate them, the truth is that just like Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan who played live-in partners in Salaam Namaste, the number of youngsters choosing to live together is clearly on the rise.

And in keeping up with laws and proposals being passed everyday to lend more recognition to live-in relations, the latest comes in the National Commission for Women's recommendation of alimony for women who have been shunned by their partners in live-in relationships. According to this proposal of the Women's Commission, just like in the case of a divorce where a man is bound to maintain his wife, children and family with a monthly allowance, a live-in partner too has to do the same with his woman. However, while total jubilancy was the expected reaction, the proposal found mixed responses.

Says a member of the National Commission for Women who is very upbeat about the proposal upon strict conditions of anonymity, "Live-in relationships are so rampant that it is time for us to view it more seriously than just another way of indulging in casual sex. There are many who are into a live-in relationship just like they would in a marriage, except for the legal bit. So, if the law can allow protection for the woman after her marriage breaks up, why not the same if there is a split in a live-in relation?"

But not everyone seems to be as upbeat about the proposal. Says Dr Rabindra Ray, sociologist at the Delhi School of Economics, "While the proposal seems to be in favour of women, in a way it is kind of undermining their self-sufficiency status as well. Besides, there is a probability of misuse too. So much of legal powers outside marriage could also actually act as a deterrent and cause some of the vital institutions of society like marriage and family to crumble. More women will now opt to get into live-in relationships because there is total freedom. A woman can have the freedom to move out of a relationship anytime and demand monthly maintenance."

Lawyers are also watching the proposal very carefully. Says senior advocate of the Supreme Court, Ashok Banerjee, "While the proposal is certainly in keeping with the times, the legal angle can be worked out only later. The most vital point will be about how to provide evidence of the relation in court."

riddhiman.seal@timesgroup.com