Supreme Court Upholds the Sanctity of Marriage in Elderly Couple’s Divorce Plea
In a judgment that reverberates the importance of the institution of marriage in India, the Supreme Court denies 89-Year-Old’s divorce plea, who sought divorce from his 82-year-old wife, stating that an “irretrievable breakdown of marriage” cannot be the sole reason for granting divorce.
Key Specifications & Features:
- Details of the Case: The couple, who got married in March 1963 and have three children, faced strains in their relationship when in January 1984, the husband, an ex-Armed Forces officer, was transferred to Madras (now Chennai). The wife, a teacher, opted to stay back with her in-laws initially and later with their son. The man filed for divorce in March 1997 on grounds of cruelty and desertion, emphasizing her absence during his hospitalization post a heart attack and allegations she made against him to his superiors.
- Court Proceedings: The Chandigarh District Court had originally granted them a divorce in February 2000. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court overturned this decision in December of the same year. This led the husband to move the Supreme Court.
- Supreme Court’s Observation: Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi, while delivering the judgment, emphasized the age-old belief of the Indian society which views marriage as a “pious, spiritual, and invaluable emotional life-net between husband and wife”. They further noted that the wife was willing to care for her husband in their twilight years and did not want the stigma of being labeled a “divorcee”.
- Verdict: The Supreme Court sided with the wife, agreeing that despite living separately for many years, the sanctity of their long-standing marriage from 1963 held importance. The court observed that the wife upheld the relationship, raising their three children even when the husband showed animosity. Granting divorce, they mentioned, would be an injustice to the wife and her sentiments.
The case highlights the importance of marriage in Indian society and the role it plays not just in the lives of the couple but also in the fabric of the culture and traditions that the country holds dear. The court’s decision reinforces the idea that each divorce plea should be meticulously examined beyond legal provisions, considering emotional and societal values attached to the institution of marriage.