BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that women are entitled to alimony upon the termination of live-in relationships. The court emphasized that women who are not legally married but separate after cohabitating with a man for a certain period are eligible for alimony. This significant judgment stemmed from a petition filed by a man challenging a lower court's order to pay Rs 1,500 per month to a woman with whom he was in a live-in relationship.

The judges stressed that alimony cannot be denied if there is evidence of cohabitation. The High Court referenced the trial court's determination that the man and woman had a relationship akin to marriage. Additionally, the court highlighted that a woman is entitled to maintenance if a child is involved in the relationship. Furthermore, the Uniform Civil Code Bill introduced by the Uttarakhand government last February also addresses live-in relationships by making registration mandatory. The bill also stipulates parental consent for individuals under the age of 21.