In a significant ruling that brings closure to a protracted legal battle, the Telangana High Court has confirmed the dissolution of a marriage and ordered the husband to pay a substantial sum of Rs 50 lakh as permanent alimony to his wife. The judgment, delivered on December 1, 2025, underscores the court's role in settling long-standing familial disputes with finality.
A Marriage Beyond Repair
The bench of Justices K Lakshman and Narsing Rao Nandikonda upheld a Family Court's decision to grant divorce to the couple, Dronamraju Vijaya Lakshmi and Dronamraju Srikanth Phani Kumar. The court emphasized the irreparable breakdown of the relationship, a union that had been fractured for over two decades.
The couple married in May 2002 but began living separately shortly after the birth of their daughter in 2003. Their marital discord spiraled into a complex web of litigation starting in 2008, when the husband sought divorce on grounds of cruelty and desertion, while the wife filed a petition for restitution of conjugal rights.
Years of Litigation and Legal Wrangling
The dispute was not confined to divorce proceedings alone. It encompassed a series of bitter legal fights that painted a picture of deep acrimony. The wife had filed multiple criminal complaints under Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with cruelty by a husband or his relatives.
Furthermore, the legal battle extended to several maintenance petitions and even involved litigation over a gift deed. This deed had been executed by the husband's father in favor of the couple's daughter, adding a layer of property dispute to the already contentious separation. The Family Court had initially granted the divorce in February 2015, a decision which the wife subsequently appealed.
Court Cites "No Possibility of Re-union"
Despite the wife's earlier pleas to reunite for the sake of their daughter, who is now a 22-year-old MBBS student, the High Court noted a critical shift. During proceedings, it became evident that even the wife no longer wished to join her husband after such a prolonged separation.
Authoring the judgment, Justice K. Lakshman highlighted the complete erosion of trust and affection. The bench observed that the marriage had reached a point of no return due to mutual distrust and the sheer volume of litigation between the parties. The court concluded that directing them to cohabitate would only lead to further disputes and apprehensions.
Rs 50 Lakh Settlement to Resolve All Claims
While confirming the divorce decree, the High Court identified a crucial omission by the Family Court: the failure to award permanent alimony or maintenance for the couple's daughter. To settle all outstanding claims in one stroke, the court directed the husband to pay a lump sum of Rs 50 lakh to the wife.
This amount is intended as a full and final settlement for both the wife and the daughter, covering permanent alimony and maintenance. The husband has been given a three-month deadline to make this payment. Upon receipt of the amount, the wife and daughter will be barred from making any further claims against the husband's properties.
With this comprehensive order, the wife's appeal for restitution of conjugal rights was dismissed, and the husband's divorce decree was finalized, albeit with this significant financial obligation attached. The judgment aims to draw a definitive line under a dispute that has consumed 17 years of the family's life.
