The Supreme Court of India has ruled that the existence of a physical relationship between consenting unmarried adults cannot be a basis for negative character judgments. This ruling arose during the case of a candidate whose appointment as a police constable was revoked due to a criminal case stemming from a romantic relationship. The court directed the Telangana State Level Police Recruitment Board to reconsider the candidate's appointment, emphasizing that consensual relationships should not be viewed as moral failures. The court noted that the candidate had been involved in a relationship with a neighbor for about four years, which ended without any charges being pressed under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code. The bench stated that the absence of force or coercion in the relationship meant that the candidate's character should not be judged based on the failed romance. The ruling reinforces the principle of presumption of innocence in criminal law, asserting that allegations must be proven in court before they can affect an individual's reputation or career.