The issue has already sparked off debate around the nation and with Maharashtra government giving a ‘go ahead’ to the proposal, it is a welcome note for some. The Maharashtra Cabinet has proposed a legal framework for ‘live-in’ relationships with the status of ‘wife’ to be given to the women who has been residing with a man for quite a while.

The State Cabinet sought to amend the definition of ‘wife’ under criminal procedure act (CrPC) to be replaced with 'woman living with the man like his wife,' thus giving women the right for alimony in legal cases of separation or divorce.  

Principal Secretary (Law and Judiciary) MN Gilani said Section 125 of the CrPC was felt to be amended as many women had to face several hurdles in fighting their case. He also said, “I came across several such cases when I worked as a judicial officer.” 

The Cabinet’s decision has come three years after the Centre had appointed a commission ‘Mallimath Committee’ being named after Justice Mallimath of Supreme Court. The committee resorted to the change in definition so as to give women a firm footing in their right and courts can treat women living with a man for reasonable period as his wife.

Women’s rights activist Pushpa Wagh, on the Cabinet’s decision said, “Any man who marries twice must be legally bound to pay alimony to his second wife.” While the State has given its consent, the proposal will take time in becoming a law since it falls under Centre’s jurisdiction and certain proposals pending with the Union government.