Rape on Promise of Marriage: J&K High Court Says Difficult to Rule That Convict Must Maintain Complainant Woman

The Jammu & Kashmir High Court, while hearing an appeal by a woman seeking interim maintenance from a partner convicted of rape on promise of marriage, held that it is difficult for a court to obligate a convicted person to maintain the complainant under such circumstances. The High Court noted the complex interplay between rape law and maintenance provisions under CrPC/IPC, observing that once a person is convicted, the relationship dynamics and statutory scheme make it challenging to simultaneously enforce a maintenance liability. The ruling reflects judicial caution before extending financial obligations in criminal-civil overlaps, particularly when sexual violence and personal claims intersect.