The matter regarding live-in relationships in India has always been on the verge of controversy. Accepting the fact that relationships can be continued without a proper tag is tougher to digest for the majority of Indians. Unmarried couples are considered to commit a sin for staying together by their own will. The scenario totally changes when it is a married couple. Even if the husband humiliates and harasses the wife each and every day, nobody dares to raise a voice against it, suppressing the whole matter as ‘PERSONAL’.
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The prejudiced side of the traditional society does not even want to recognize the point that living in relationships is a part of the right to privacy and the right to live as well. The conservative strand of society does not approve of romantic relationships without legal documentation; on the other hand glorifies the culture of marrying an unknown random person and expecting people to ADJUST for the rest of their lives.
The BJP-ruled state of Uttarakhand had made it mandatory for a couple to register their relationship within a month, failure to do the same would result in unchangeable consequences. The officer may register if he finds the relationship valid. If the couple parts their way, they have to submit a statement. This whole process gradually makes the basic features of a live-in relationship vague.
Live-in relationships are meant to be personal and the documentation of it breaches the right to privacy. Also, there remains a chance that the officials may interfere in their personal matters, asking for their information makes it more problematic. Even the landlords are very judgemental when it comes to renting couples. The UCC registration almost seems like a punishment for unmarried couples. Not registering the relationship might end them up going to jail. Though the government says that it is basically for the greater good, protecting women's rights and whatsoever. The very idea of live in relationships is getting sacrificed by registration. Live-in relationships are meant to be free of any legal bindings.
The Hindu extremist groups are of the view that living in relationships is against their tradition and culture. But if we take a deep dive into the Hindu mythologies, there has been a significant mention of the ‘Gandharva’ union, which did not have any kind of rituals and parental consent, it is basically standing on the bricks of mutual love. For example, Shakuntala and Dushyanta form a Gandharva union in Kalidasa's well-known play Abhigyan Shakuntalam. The most common example would be Radha Krishna; their love bonding has been celebrated since time immemorial. They never got married. I can mention a handful of such examples. That would not resolve the issue.
The state, by passing this legislation, has almost tarnished the idea of privacy for all. Moral policing and privacy issues have been geared up by this legislation. Now the couples in other neighbouring states are also fearing about the legality of their love affair. The fact is that the government is worried about such an issue if there are plenty of issues to be resolved. Unemployment, poverty, water crisis, and pollution are much bigger problems than two mutually consenting people living together.
Is it really for the goodness of the people or a step forward to the totalitarian regime? Registering live-in relationships may be a way of monitoring the lives of youngsters. Anyways, we are already monitored by the authorities in every aspect of our lives, this episode can be seen as a mere exaggeration of it.
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