An adult couple has a right to live together without marriage, the Supreme Court said. The top court held that live-in relationships were now even recognized by the legislature and they had found a place under the provisions of the protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act,2005.

 The observation came while the Supreme Court was hearing a plea filed by Nandakumar against a Kerala High Court's order annulling his marriage with Thushara on the ground that he had not attained the legal age of marriage.  The prohibition of Child Marriage Act states that a woman can't marry before the age of 18, and a man before 21.

The High Court had granted the custody of Ms.Thushara to her father after noting that she was not Mr.Nandakumar's "lawfully wedded" wife. A Bench justice A.K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said their marriage could not be said to be "null and void".