The Supreme Court of India, in a matrimonial dispute, has exercised its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to grant a decree of divorce, dissolving a marriage where the parties had been living separately for over 15 years.

A bench comprising J ustice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta , hearing Criminal Appeal No. 1595 of 2025 , held that the relationship had “irretrievably broken down” and that “no purpose in perpetuating a legal relationship that has ceased to have any meaning” would be served.

The Court ordered the respondent-husband to pay a sum of Rs. 1,00,00,000/- (Rupees one crore) as permanent alimony. Upon payment, all pending civil and criminal proceedings between the parties arising from the marriage are to stand “quashed and closed.”

Background

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