Supreme Court of India: Promise to Marry Does Not Constitute Rape

In 2025, the Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark judgment ruling that a man's failure to fulfill a promise of marriage after consensual sexual relations does not automatically constitute rape under Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code. The case involved a woman who alleged she was coerced into sex based on a false promise of marriage. The Court held that for a broken promise to vitiate consent, the prosecution must prove that the accused had no intention to marry from the very inception, establishing a deliberate deception. The judgment clarified that a mere change of heart or subsequent withdrawal from marriage does not amount to rape, emphasizing the need to distinguish between breach of promise and criminal fraud. This ruling sparked widespread debate over women's rights and consent.

The Supreme Court acquitted the accused, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the promise to marry was false from the outset. The Court established that a breach of promise alone does not vitiate consent, and there was no evidence of pre-planned deception.

Whether a consensual sexual relationship based on a promise of marriage that is later broken constitutes rape, specifically whether the accused had a pre-existing intent to deceive, and the interpretation of 'consent' under Section 375 IPC.

Women's rights groups criticized the judgment for potentially encouraging sexual exploitation under the guise of marriage promises. Legal experts argued it provides clarity to prevent misuse of rape laws. The decision reignited national debate on consent and led to calls for legislative reform to define 'misconception of fact' in sexual consent cases.