Delhi additional sessions judge Surinder S Rathi has remarked that live-in relationships are not part of Indian culture, it is a western import, mere fad in urbal areas and immoral. Of course, the judge has also noted that the supreme court in October 2010 gave a legal cover for this “infamous western product” and parliament too has recognised the same in the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.

Is it amoral if two consenting adults decide to live together without the formality of a marriage? Does this mere formality turn a relationship moral? Isn’t it more important that women’s rights are protected? There are a lot of fads and a lot of immoral practices (and some of them are not even imported or restricted to metros): what is the big deal with live-in relationships?