Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has observed that before marriage, a boy and a girl are “strangers” and there must be circumspection before entering into a physical relationship.
The remarks came from a Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan while hearing a special leave petition (SLP) seeking bail on February 16, filed by a man accused of rape on the alleged false promise of marriage. Earlier, the Delhi High Court, in an order passed on November 18, 2025, had denied him bail in an FIR registered under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC at Vasant Kunj North Police Station.
During the course of hearing, the Bench remarked that “maybe we are old fashioned, but before marriage a boy and a girl are strangers.” It further observed that irrespective of the depth of their relationship, it was difficult to understand how parties could indulge in physical relations prior to marriage.
“One must be very careful. Nobody should believe anybody before marriage,” added the apex court. As per the prosecution case, the complainant, aged about 30 years, met the petitioner through a matrimonial website in 2022.
Their interaction gradually developed into a relationship during which the petitioner-accused allegedly proposed marriage. The complainant later discovered that the petitioner was already married and had solemnised a second marriage in January 2024.
While hearing the case, Justice Nagarathna-led Bench questioned why the complainant travelled abroad prior to marriage if she was particular about tying the knot.
