Live in Partners Can Seek Protection Under Section 498A, Says Supreme Court The Supreme Court of India has recently ruled that live in partners who have been subjected to cruelty or harassment at the hands of their partners can seek protection under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
This decision marks a significant shift in the way the law addresses domestic violence and acknowledges that cruelty and harassment can occur regardless of marital status.
Historically, Section 498A has been used primarily to safeguard married women who have suffered physical and emotional abuse at the hands of their husbands or in laws.