Supreme Court Dissolves 24-Year-Long Marriage, Ruling Long Separation Amounts to Cruelty

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In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India has dissolved a 24-year-long marriage between a husband and wife, ruling that a prolonged period of separation without hope of reconciliation amounts to cruelty to both parties. The couple, who tied the knot in 2000, began their matrimonial litigation in 2003 and have been living separately ever since. Despite repeated efforts by the courts to reconcile the couple, there has been no progress. The top court noted that the prolonged pendency of matrimonial litigation can lead to the perpetuity of a marriage on paper, causing more harm than good. In this case, the court exercised its plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to dissolve the marriage, citing irretrievable breakdown. The court emphasized that the couple's strongly held views regarding their approach to matrimonial life have led to a fundamental difference in their relationship, resulting in mental cruelty. Referring to a 2007 verdict, the court stated that marriage becomes a legal fiction when parties refuse to sever their ties, leading to a breakdown in the relationship. In a significant observation, the court highlighted that the approach of the courts should be to preserve the sanctity of marriage. However, in this case, the marriage has lost its sanctity due to the prolonged separation and lack of reconciliation. The court also noted that the couple has no children, minimizing the impact of the divorce on any third party. The Supreme Court's decision brings an end to the couple's 24-year-long marriage, a rare instance of a court dissolving a marriage due to irretrievable breakdown. The ruling underscores the importance of considering the impact of prolonged matrimonial litigation on the parties involved and the society as a whole.