The Supreme Court has dissolved the marriage between a couple, invoking its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, holding that the relationship had irretrievably broken down after more than fifteen years of separation. The Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta directed the husband to pay ₹1 crore as permanent alimony and recorded that the payment would constitute a full and final settlement of all claims between the parties.
The marriage between the couple was solemnised in October 2009, and the wife left the matrimonial home in April 2010, alleging mental and physical harassment by her husband and in-laws. The couple’s son was born later that year. Thereafter, the wife has initiated proceedings under Section 125 CrPC seeking maintenance, and later filed an application under Section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. The Trial Court had awarded her monthly maintenance and ₹4,00,000 as compensation, which was partly set aside by the Rajasthan High Court in 2023. The High Court also dismissed her revision petition and the Family Court’s separate compensation order, prompting the wife to approach the Supreme Court.
During the pendency of the appeal, the Court passed several directions for clearing maintenance arrears and recorded the husband’s offer to pay ₹1 crore as permanent alimony. The Bench noted that attempts at reconciliation through the Supreme Court Mediation Centre had failed. Observing that the parties had lived apart in acrimony and bitterness since April 2010, the Court concluded that no meaningful marital bond survived between them.
Consequently, in exercise of its powers under Article 142, the Court has dissolved the marriage between the parties, upon payment of ₹1 Crore permanent alimony to the wife within three months, as a full and final settlement of all claims.
