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Why NHRC issued notice to MeitY over app ‘promoting’ extramarital relationships | What we know
The NHRC has issued a notice to MeitY regarding the Gleeden app, which allegedly promotes extramarital affairs among millions of Indian users.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) seeking a detailed report on the functioning and legality of the social networking platform Gleeden, following a complaint that flagged concerns over its impact on individuals and society.
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The action comes after the Commission took cognisance of a complaint filed by the Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation, which alleged that Gleeden facilitates extramarital relationships by connecting married individuals for discreet interactions.
The complaint claimed that nearly 40 lakh Indian users, both men and women, are active on the platform, raising questions about its scale and potential consequences. It also flagged issues such as misuse through fake identities, possible exploitation of women, lack of regulatory oversight, and the risk of minors accessing the platform.
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NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo, in a post on X, said the complaint suggested that the platform promotes digital services “purely for adultery and sexual invitations”. He warned that such relationships, when exposed, could lead to breakdowns in marriages, domestic violence, and in extreme cases, suicides. “Extramarital sexual relationships formed discreetly can lead to the breakdown of marital relationships and domestic violence when exposed,” he wrote.
The Commission has also raised broader concerns about whether such a platform aligns with India’s social and cultural framework. The NHRC member noted that Gleeden’s services appear to run contrary to the country’s “social-familial structure and cultural-religious context”, making it necessary to examine if its operations are legally permissible under existing laws.
Based on the ministry’s response, the NHRC will decide its next course of action.
