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Divorcebymutualconsent
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Editorsnote:
DivorcebymutualconsentisaddressedunderS.13Bofthe
Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and Section 28 of the Special
Marriage Act, 1954. For parties to seek divorce by mutual
consent,theymustbelivingseparatelyforaperiodofatleast
oneyear,andmustresolvetowardstheendofthemarriage.
They must not be performing marital obligations physical
separation is not a criteria. The marriage must be beyond
reconciliation, and presenting a petition for divorce together
does not indicate amicability. Consent, however, must be
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Introduction
Marriagesareconsideredassacredallianceforlife,itisnotjustaunion
between two persons but between two families. Nonetheless, it is a
relation between two people and since no human is perfect it is highly
probablethattwopeopledonotfeelcompatiblewitheachothersoasto
live together a whole life. Therefore, it can be seen that the cases of
divorcearefastrisingevenincountrieslikeIndiawheremarriagesare
consideredtobemadeinheaven.Inthesecircumstances,itisalways
betterthatcoupletakedivorcebymutualconsentsoastoavoidfurther
disputes,timeandmoney.
This paper will essentially deal with the idea of divorce on grounds of
mutual consent. Section 13 B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and
Section28oftheSpecialMarriageAct,1954dealswiththeprovisionof
divorce on grounds of mutual consent. This project will analyse these
sections and also deal with the various amendments incorporated in
thesesections.
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Living separately
The Supreme Court of India in the case of Sureshta Devi v Om
Prakash[4]hasruledoutthattheexpressionlivingseparatelyconnotes
not living like husband and wife. It has no reference to the place of
living. The parties may live under same roof by way of circumstances,
andyettheymaynotbelivingashusbandandwife.Whatseemstobe
importantisthattheyhavenodesiretoperformmaritalobligationsand
with that they have been living separately for a period of one year
immediately preceding the presentation of the petition. It has been
ruledoutbySupremeCourtinvariouscasesthattheexpressionhave
beenlivingseparatelydoesnotnecessarilymeansphysicalseparation
or living separately and apart what is material is that no marital
obligationsareperformedbetweenthespousesandtheyarenotliving
togetherashusbandandwife.
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Aftersatisfyingtheabovetworequirementsandfilingajointpetitionfor
divorcebymutualconsent,thepartiesmustwaitforatleastsixmonths,
usuallytermedasthecoolingperiod.Aftertheendofthisperiod,ifthe
initialpetitionisnotwithdrawnbyeitherofthepartiesorjointly,boththe
parties may move court by way of joint motion within the stipulated
periodof18monthsfromtheinitialdateofthefilingofthejointpetition.
Thisperiodisgiventopartiestorethinktheirdecision.
The following aspects of this provision have been subject to judicial
interpretation:[7]
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proceedingsinthelowercourtandpriortothepassingofthedecree.
Conclusion
Through this paper, we have analysed the Section 13B of the Hindu
Marriages Act. Divorce by mutual consent provides an opportunity of
amicable resolution of disputes between parties and saves time and
money.Therequirementsasprovidedunderthissectionarethatbefore
filing a joint petition for divorce parties must be living separately for a
periodofatleastoneyear.Aswementionedoutearlierlivingseparately
doesnotnecessarilyconnotesphysicalseparation,whatisessentialis
thatpartiesarenotfulfillingmaritalobligationsandnotlivingashusband
andwife.Thesecondrequirementisthatthepartieshavenotbeenable
tolivetogether.Thefactthatboththepartieshavefiledajointpetition
by mutual consent is indicative of the face that parties have not been
abletolivetogether.Onlythingthatisimportantisthattheconsenthas
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beenobtainedfreelyandnotbywayofforce,fraudorundueinfluence
asthewholepurposeofmutualconsentwillbevitiatedifconsentisnot
free. After parties have filed a joint petition for divorce fulfilling all the
requisiteconditionstheyaregivenatimeperiodofsixmonthsandnot
more than eighteen months after which they have to file a second
motion and courts after hearing the parties and scrutinising the
avermentsinthepetitionpassadecreeofdivorce.Thethreepointsof
contention are that whether the waiting period of six months is
mandatory or directory, the second is that can parties unilaterally
withdraw their consent and third that whether silence at the second
stage would amount to tantamount to withdrawal. There have been
contrasting judgements on the first two issues. Different high courts
haveadopteddifferentyardsticksintheinterpretationoftheSection13
B.SomeHighCourtshaveheldthatthewaitingperiodofsixmonthsis
mandatoryasperthesectionwhereassomeHighCourtshaveadopted
thespiritoflawmorethanthetechnicalwordsofthesectionandhave
ruled out that the period is directory if there is no chance of
reconciliation between the parties. However, Supreme Court using its
extraordinary powers under Article 142 of Constitution can pass the
decree of divorce without waiting for a period of 6 months. Also,
Supreme Court in the case of Sushreta Devi has ruled out that the
petitionofdivorcecanbewithdrawnunilaterally.Onthethirdissuethe
courtshaveruledoutthatsilenceornotappearingforhearingswillnot
amounttowithdrawalofconsent.
EditedbyNeerjaGurnani
[1]Kusum,FamilyLawLectures(2nd,LexisNexiButterworthswadhwa,
Nagpur2007)161
[2]TheHinduMarriageAct1955s13(B)
[3]ParasDiwan,LawofMarriage&Divorce(5th,UniversalLaw
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PublishingCo.,NewDelhi2008)525
[4](1992)AIRSC1904
[5]Id
[6]ParasDiwan,LawofMarriage&Divorce(5th,UniversalLaw
PublishingCo.,NewDelhi2008)529
[7]Kusum,FamilyLawLectures(3rd,LexisNexiButterworthswadhwa,
Nagpur2002)162
[8]AIR1999AP91
[9]AIR2005MP106
[10]AIR2000AP364
[11]AIR1997SC
[12]AIR1984Bom302
[13]AIR1986P&H
[14]AIR1992SC
[15]Id
[16]AIR2009SC
[17]AIR2003Raj155
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Comments
Gourabsays
September14,2015at2:51pm
Awesome,itwasveryuseful.
EspeciallyWhethermeresilenceatthesecondstagewould
tantamounttowithdrawal!Evenmanylawyerdontknowthis.
Reply
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