The Madhya Pradesh court has delivered a verdict stating that an adult woman has the right to choose her partner, even if the man is already married.
This judgment allows a man to live with both his wife and a girlfriend at the same time, without anyone questioning it legally.
Many see this decision as progressive, but others find it regressive. From a broader perspective, it can be traumatic for women, as it indirectly validates the idea of a man openly keeping a mistress.
In a country where laws are often misused, this verdict raises concerns. For the woman who chooses to live with a married man without the wife’s consent, it may feel like betrayal.
A division bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Pradeep Mittal clarified that if such a marriage occurs, it is a non-cognisable offence. Only the first wife has the right to file a case of bigamy against her husband and the other woman.
Every new law reflects changing times, but if it ends up destroying someone else’s life, it becomes a matter of serious concern.
