Is PDA Illegal? 7 Legal Rights Of Unmarried Couples In India Everyone Should Know

People have legal and constitutional rights that protect them in the eyes of the law. Couples in India often have to deal with harassment in the name of ‘preserving dignity’ and displays of affection can be met with violence. The legal rights of unmarried couples protect them from harassment and violence. If married couples are often harassed for being ‘vulgar’, then unmarried couples should actively keep an eye out to protect themselves from harassment or abuse.

People who consider themselves as enforcers against public displays of affection (PDA) have taken it upon themselves to beat and harass anyone they think is being vulgar. A married couple was recently harassed after the husband kissed his wife while they both were bathing in a river in Ayodhya. The husband was surrounded by a group of men that hit him and hurled abuses at him before kicking the couple out of the river. Read more on this here.

In order to protect themselves, the legal rights of unmarried couples should be common knowledge to the public.

Legal Rights Of Unmarried Couples In India

• Many hotels do not allow unmarried couples to book a room together. However, there is no legislation that bans unmarried couples from booking a room together. It is not a criminal offence for an unmarried couple to share a hotel room.
• The Supreme Court ruled that live-in relationships are lawful and two adults living together cannot be regarded as illegal or unconstitutional.
• Unmarried couples have the right to roam and sit together in public places as long as no “obscene act” takes place.
• If a live-in couple has resided under the same roof for some years, then any child born to them will not be illegitimate. The Supreme Court decided that children born to a live-in couple are legitimate.
• Unmarried couples engaging in consensual sex in private places cannot be harassed by the police. The right to privacy includes sexual autonomy and also protects unmarried couples.
• There is no law forbidding unmarried couples from renting or buying a home together. Unmarried couples can live together and buy or rent a property and become joint owners.
• The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 also includes the right of partners in a live-in relationship to receive protection from domestic violence and abusive relationships.

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