Showing a liberal stance Supreme Court of Thursday said that live-in relationships can no longer be considered prohibited.

According to an English daily, bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C Pant said that laws should evolve according to changing times and told that live-in relationships are now an acceptable norm in the society. The bench was hearing argument of attorney general Mukul Rohatgi advocating retention of penal provision for defamation. He said that reputation of a public figure having live-in relationship may be tarnished if it is exposed.

SC bench hearing the argument then remarked saying, " Live-in relationship has become acceptable norm in modern times and it is not a crime. But if a public figure has indulged in such relationship then exposing it is not wrong". It questioned AG saying, "If some person makes allegation against a public figure that he is in a live-in relationship and which is truth, then is it not a case in public interest?"

However AG contested the argument saying whatever a person does inside the four walls of his home is not of public interest even if it is truth. SC over the years has recognised live-in relationships in several of their judgements.