The Supreme Court of India has ruled that a premarital physical relationship between two consenting adults cannot be used to question an individual's character.
The court made this decision while overturning the cancellation of a police constable candidate's appointment, which was based on a criminal case related to a premarital relationship.
The court noted that not every romantic relationship ends in marriage and that the mere fact that a relationship ends without marriage does not imply deception.
The court also observed that pre-marital relationships are common today and that two consenting adults have the right to choose their relationships.
The decision was made in the case of Gajula Thirupathi, whose candidature as a police constable was cancelled due to a criminal case related to a premarital relationship.
The court held that the decision to cancel Thirupathi's candidature was arbitrary and restored the order of the High Court's single judge.
