Live-in partners can seek protection under Section 498A, says Supreme Court

Section 498A prescribes imprisonment of up to three years and a fine for subjecting a woman to crueltyNEW DELHI: The Supreme Court said Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with cruelty by a husband or his relatives, would also apply to partners in live-in relationships. The top court said the law must evolve with changing social realities and ensure protection for individuals facing harassment in live-in relationships.The bench observed that legal safeguards against cruelty should not be restricted to marriage alone. It also clarified that live-in partners need not necessarily be a man and a woman, recognising that such relationships may take different forms.Section 498A prescribes imprisonment of up to three years and a fine for subjecting a woman to cruelty. The law define