In a significant ruling that underscores the legal recognition of failed marriages, the Telangana High Court has formally dissolved a 20-year-old union that had been effectively defunct for 17 years, simultaneously mandating a substantial alimony payment.
A Marriage That Never Took Off
The division bench of Justice K Lakshman and Justice Vakiti Ramakrishna Reddy, in a judgment dated November 25, upheld a family court's 2014 divorce decree. The court powerfully observed that the couple was "at loggerheads right from the inception of their marriage" and that the "marriage never took off."
The bench elaborated that the marriage had become "dead wood" and was "wrecked beyond the hope of salvage." It emphasized that when a marriage reaches such a state, public interest lies in formally acknowledging its end, allowing both parties to move forward.
Seventeen Years of Separation and Legal Battles
The couple, married in 2005, began living separately just three years later, in 2008. They have a daughter, who is now 19 years old. The original petition for divorce was filed by the husband in 2010, with the family court granting it in 2014 after concluding the wife had no intention to resume marital life.
The husband, an industrial manager, alleged cruelty and desertion. He claimed his wife insisted on living separately, abused him in front of his family, and restricted his visitation rights with their child. The court noted that witness depositions supported his claims, revealing the wife's persistent demands for a separate residence, which were deemed not to be made in good faith.
In a serious turn of events, evidence suggested the husband had once attempted suicide due to mental anguish stemming from a marital meeting, a fact the court treated with grave concern.
The wife countered with allegations of dowry harassment and a physical assault during the 2008 Deepavali festival. However, the High Court found these claims unsubstantiated, citing a lack of credible, corroborative evidence and the failure to lodge a formal complaint at the time.
Final Settlement and Alimony Award
Acknowledging that the wife had single-handedly raised their daughter, the court turned to the matter of financial settlement. Considering the husband's employment status and age, the bench directed him to pay ₹30 lakh to his former wife within three months.
This amount was designated as a "full and final settlement" for all claims, including any arrears of maintenance. Consequently, the court dismissed the wife's pending applications seeking an additional ₹50 lakh for their daughter's wedding expenses and further monthly maintenance.
The judgment, while acknowledging that Indian courts cannot directly dissolve a marriage solely on the ground of irretrievable breakdown, heavily relied on the extraordinarily long period of 17 years of separation as a critical factor in confirming the divorce.
