Supreme Court Grants Divorce to Couple After 13 Years of Separation, 40+ Pending Cases
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In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has granted divorce to a couple who were married for just 65 days but have been living apart for over 13 years. The court dissolved the marriage under Article 142 of the Constitution, citing irretrievable breakdown and irreconcilable differences. The couple, who tied the knot on January 28, 2012, have been locked in a bitter dispute with over 40 cases pending against each other. The wife had left the matrimonial home within 65 days, alleging cruelty by the husband and his family members. Since then, the parties have engaged in relentless litigation across multiple courts in Delhi, Allahabad, Ghaziabad, and Lucknow. The Supreme Court bench, comprising justices Rajesh Bindal and Manmohan, observed that the level of bitterness between the parties had reached a point where reconciliation was no longer possible. The court noted that the couple had not intended to live together and that reconciliation was impossible due to the passage of time. Expressing concern over the misuse of the judicial system in matrimonial disputes, the bench warned that courts cannot be allowed to become a battlefield for warring couples seeking to settle personal scores. The court emphasized the importance of early dispute resolution mechanisms and mediation in resolving matrimonial disputes. The judgment contained wide-ranging observations on the rise in matrimonial litigation and the role of lawyers, courts, and families in escalating disputes. The bench highlighted the increasing tendency to collect and create false evidence, warning that this trend must be addressed. Allowing the wife's plea, the court dissolved the marriage and directed that all pending cases arising out of the matrimonial dispute between the parties shall stand disposed of, barring certain applications alleging perjury. The court also restrained both parties from initiating any further litigation relating to their matrimonial dispute and imposed costs of ₹10,000 each on them.
