Live-in relationships will be put on a par with marriage in western India after the Maharashtra government announced it would be seeking a change in the law's definition of a "wife".

Even if the live-in relationships are set to get legal sanction, but youngsters are still sceptical over it. Reason – they are worried about the consequences arising out of any litigation to whether the approval will help remove the social stigma or not.

So who is on the benefit side after the legislation? Women who are in non-martial relationships which end - either amicably or because they are deserted by their live-in partners - cannot seek alimony. Now the new law will protect "the pecuniary interests of a woman who was living with a man like his wife for a reasonably long time".

Who is on the losing side? Now it will tough for a man to walk out of the relationship. Incase where a man refuses to part with his partner’s share of the property they have invested in together, the government’s decision, if it goes on to become the law of the land will have definite adverse effect.

Men, who until now used to deny such a relationship on grounds that the marriage was never conducted as per Hindu rites, shall now have no escape route.

The Maharashtra government’s move almost sounds to me like “license to kill” or “legalizing prostitute”. Where are we moving, nobody knows.

Prove me wrong – Men facing troublesome marriages or fighting divorce cases, can’t they simply ignore these obstructions and get on in life with the ‘other woman', who will be accorded legal status?

Prove me wrong – Women with uncertain motives, can’t they claim advantages under the proposed law even for “one-night stands” or “temporary relationships”, with few options available for the legally-wedded wife or the man.

People argue regarding the difficulties of a failed marriage but how success is the live-in relationship where we stay together – under the same room, on the same bed exploring each other – for a better future?

Some of the advocates of live-in relationship give this example to uphold the usefulness of live-in relationship but how far that is true? So my dearest generation next - will you go for it or wont’ you?

What the law says:

The Maharashtra Cabinet accepted a Centre-appointed panel’s suggestion to broaden the definition of “wife” to include a woman who has lived together with a man for a reasonably long period.

The Justice Mallimath Committee said such a step would help women involved in live-in relationships to claim alimony in case of a break-up.
Under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the word “wife” now applies to a woman who has been divorced by or has got a divorce from her husband and has not remarried.

But the committee said if a man and a woman were living together for a “reasonable period,” the woman should get the status of a wife.

As CrPC is on the concurrent list, the cabinet proposal would be sent to the Centre for obtaining the President’s assent.