Marriage is one of the beautiful experiences people have in their lives, the institution of marriage is built on love, companionship, trust and commitment. It is a sacred union between two committed people who experience deep companionship and affection in a safe and nurturing environment. This sacred bond between two committed people is highly regarded across various cultures and societies. However, sometimes people with ill intention enter into relationships with false promises of marriage which can have devastating consequences for the party which falls victim to this. This article we will take a deep dive into the issue related to false promises of marriage, exploring legal repercussions and the remedies available to those affected.
Understanding The False Promise of Marriage:
A false promise of marriage is when someone induce a women with deceitful means or by making promise to entering into a marital relationship without any intention of fulfilling the same, has sexual intercourse with her, such sexual intercourse not amounting to the offence of rape, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years. This deception can take various forms, such as promising marriage to gain financial or personal advantages, exploiting emotional vulnerabilities, or leading someone into a fraudulent relationship.
Importance of Addressing False Promise of Marriage Issue
False promises of marriage can lead to some serious consequences to the party which got cheated on the pretext of false promise of marriage. It puts the victim under significant emotional pain, including feelings of betrayal, humiliation, and loss of trust It is important to understand the common motive behind this
Financial Gain: The culprit may use deceitful means of false promise of marriage to gain access to the financial resources of victim or try to could involve seeking access to inheritances, joint bank accounts
Emotional Manipulation: The Perpetrators might seek to emotionally manipulate the victim and take advantage of their vulnerability and influence their decision making.
Social Status or Reputation: Sometimes false promises of marriage are made by the culprit to prevent their social status and their desire to appear as a committed person and get validation, admiration, or acceptance within their community or social circle.
Avoiding Responsibility: There are instances where the culprit uses a false promise of marriage to avoid responsibility that comes along in the committed relationship and use it as a tool to avoid or delay accountability for their behavior, such as infidelity or deception.
Psychological Issues: Individuals with traits like narcissism, sociopathy lack genuine emotion and empathy which may lead them to making false promises of marriage.
Impact on Victim:
The impact of false promises of marriage on the victim can be far reaching than simple betrayal some of the common impact are
Trust Issues: Victims of false promises of marriage may develop trust issues and find difficulty in forming new relationships in future.
Emotional Distress and Trauma: The victim can experience significant emotional distress including feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Self-Esteem and Identity Issues: The deceived victim can get into self blaming and start belittling themselves questioning their worth, value, and attractiveness.
Social Isolation and Stigmatization: The deceived victim grapples with the aftermath of the deception, they may feel ashamed and embarrassed while facing the society and fear judgment or blame for being deceived.
Recovery and Healing: Victims of false promises of marriage take time to recover, need support from trusted friends, family members and sometimes even need to take the help of a mental health specialist.
Legal Repercussions of False Promises of Marriage:
A false promise of marriage can lead to legal issues under certain situations
Deceptive Practices Like Fraudulent Inducement: False promise of marriage can fall in the category of fraudulent inducement when someone is deceived into entering an agreement based on the false promise of marrigae. If the victim can prove the following:
- The culprit made a promise with no intention of fulfilling it.
- The false promise of marriage was a major influencing factor in victims consenting to relationships.
- The victim suffered emotional and financial damages because of the false promise.
The culprit can be tried for fraudulent inducement which is a serious legal offense and can result in civil liability for the perpetrator.
Breach of Contract: If the perpetrator effectively enters into an implied or explicit contract with the victim with the intention of entering into the relationship with a false promise to marriage and then backs out or fails to uphold their end of the agreement then they may be sued for breach of contract.
The victims of false promises of marriage involve accessing legal options to hold perpetrators accountable for their action.
Legal Recourse for Victims:
Accessing Legal Options: The victim of false promise of marriage must access the legal option ensuring their rights are protected and that they receive the support and assistance they need.
Consulting with a Legal Expert: This is the first step you must take if you are considering accessing legal options against the culprit. A lawyer that specializes in dealing with cases related to fraudulent inducement, breach of contract. The legal professionals with their experience and expertise can assess the merits of the case, provide guidance on available legal remedies.
Gather Evidence: Collect any relevant evidence to your case to make your case stronger, seek out the testimony of witnesses if possible.
Filing Civil Lawsuits: The victim can choose to file a lawsuit against the culprit claiming compensation for damages incurred as a result of the deception and betrayal, and pursue monetary damages to cover financial losses, medical expenses, pain and suffering due false promise of marriage. Apart from this, the victim can also seek to recover any assets or property obtained by the perpetrator through fraudulent means.
Criminal Prosecution: If the false promise of marriage is associated with criminal conduct like fraud, identity theft, or extortion, you need to go with criminal prosecution against the perpetrator which may result in imprisonment, fines, probation, or other sanctions.
Also Read :- Women And Their Rights In a Marriage
Protecting Your Rights: Insaaf99’s Assistance for False Promise Victims:
Insaaf99 is an online legal consultation platform which uses technology to bridge the gap between Individuals seeking legal assistance and the legal service provider. Our platform boasts experienced legal professionals who have proven expertise in dealing with cases related to false promise of marriage and breach of contact. These legal experts provide personalized guidance and representation to victims, helping them understand their rights, assess their legal options, and pursue appropriate remedies. Insaaf99′ can help individuals navigate the legal complexities with confidence and empower themselves to protect their rights and well-being.
Conclusion: False promise of marriage have multifaceted affect on the victim and consequences for non suspecting part is catastrophic. The victim undergoes emotional stress, deals feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, depression, they become low on self esteem and face social isolation. Deceived victims of false promises of marriage should be aware of their legal rights and remedies and take legal action against the culprit with the help of a legal professional.
Frequently Asked Questions Related to False Promise to Marriage
What constitutes a false promise of marriage?
A false promise of marriage is when someone induce a women with deceitful means or by making promise to entering into a marital relationship without any intention of fulfilling the same
What is the law relating to the breach of promise to marry?
If it is established that from the inception, the consent by the victim is a result of a false promise to marry, there will be no consent and the accused can be charge for the offense of rape.
How can I prove that someone made false promises of marriage?
You can prove the false promise of marriage simply by producing relevant evidence and seeking testimony of witnesses, taking help of a legal expert is advisable.
What is the Supreme Court judgment on promise to marry? How to deal with such a crime?
Supreme Court of India take these case as per the situation as in one of the cases as per Supreme Court suggested to go with the charge of rape if it is provide that since inception the relationship was based on false promise of marriage, the consent will not be consider as consent rape charge should be applied.
The Supreme Court recently quashed a criminal case against a man accused of raping a woman on the false pretext of marriage, after noting that when the relationship started, the woman was already married and that there was no promise to marry.