Divorce

By Ayush Chandra 12 Minutes Read

Introduction

Divorce is  the most unfortunate occasion for any couple. Likewise, couples who commonly agree to the divorce, though, must certify that they have not  been living with each other for a year before the courts acknowledge their request. In India, rules for divorce correspond to the religious and spiritual justifications. Separation among Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains is administered by the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955;[1] muslims divorce is being governed by the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939[2], parsis by the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936[3] and Christians by the Indian Divorce Act, 1869[4]. All civil and inter-community marriages are administered by the Special Marriage Act, 1956[5]. The divorce is permitted only with some conditions and not in all circumstances. A wife can open to give a legal notice for divorce to the husband and vice-versa before ending the husband and wife relationship. This article will elaborate on the procedures on how to take a divorce in India from a wife or husband. The divorce procedure in India, divorce rules, and regulations in India, and the divorce laws in India are a little complicated.

Types of Divorce Petitions;

A couple can acquire a divorce with mutual consent, or unless the bride files for divorce without the permission of the other.

Divorce with Mutual Consent:

When husband and wife both consent to a divorce, the courts will grant a divorce with mutual approval. For the petition to be admitted, however, the couple should not be living with each other at least for over a year or two years (as per the relevant act) and should  confirm that they have not been ready to live together. Usually, even when either husband or wife is unwilling, they still admit to such a divorce because it is almost reasonable and not as traumatic as a fought divorce. Objects such as children’s administration, upholding, and property claims could be accepted to respectively. The time period of a divorce by mutual consent differs from six to 18 months, depending on the choice of the court. Normally, the courts favor ending common consent divorces sooner.

As per Section 13 B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955[6] and Section 28 of the Special Marriage Act, 1954[7], the couple should not be living with each other and separately for at least one year before divorce procedures can start. Section 10A of Divorce Act, 1869[8], though, wants the couple to be separated for at most limited two years and that living independently does not certainly imply living in varying locations; the couple only needs to present that they have not been breathing as husband and wife during this time duration.

Divorce Without Mutual Consent:

In case of a challenging divorce, there are particular grounds on which the appeal can be executed in the court. It isn’t as if a husband or wife can solely ask for a divorce without asserting a reason for their divorce. The causes are as follows, though some are not relevant to all myths.

Cruelty

Cruelty may be physical or mental. According to the Hindu Divorce Act, if one spouse has a fair opinion in the mind that the other spouse’s behaviour is likely to be dangerous or painful, then there is enough ground for obtaining divorce due to Brutality by the spouse.

Desertion

One spouse leaving the other without reasonable cause (cruelty, for example) is a ground for divorce. But, the spouse who rejects the other should intend to leave and there should be evidence of it. As per Hindu laws, the desertion should have remained at least two continuous years.

Conversion

Divorce can be tried by a spouse if the other spouse turns to another religion. This reason does not need any period to have passed before the divorce can be filed.

Mental Disorder

 If the spouse is inadequate in completing the normal duties expected in marriage on account of psychic illness, divorce can be inquired. If the psychic illness is to such an amount that the normal responsibilities of married life cannot be achieved.

Communicable Disease

If the spouse undergoes an infectious disease, such as HIV/AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, or a poisonous and serious form of leprosy, the Hindu Divorce Law in India allows that the other party can receive a divorce.

Renunciation of the World

If the spouse denies his/her married life and opts for sannyasa, the aggrieved spouse may acquire a divorce.

Presumption of Death

If the spouse has not been discovered as being alive for at least seven years, by such people who would have understood about such spouse, if he or she were alive, then the spouse who is alive can receive a judicial decree of divorce.

What about child custody[9]?

Many believe that the mothers get guardianship of their children. This is not the case. While the courts usually conform to the settlement of the parents in a common consent divorce, the courts will look into the best care of the child. In a disputed divorce, the courts will consider the ability of the mother or father to be a parent to the child.

Divorce Notice:[10]

Before anything, one should be knowledgeable to create a divorce notice to the spouse. This is to define the emotions and principles to admit one’s thoughts on ending the relationship. Legal notice for divorce will begin inaccuracy to the other spouse about the future relationship that one wants to discontinue. A spouse can convey a legal notice for divorce to the other spouse in a method to express his/her aim to take legal steps foremost covering the marriage relationship. It is a formal statement that is the first move to divide the ‘husband and wife’ relationship.

Documents needed:

  • Address verification of husband,
  • Address verification of wife,
  • Marriage document,
  •  Four passport size pictures of the marriage of husband and wife,
  • Confirmation confirming spouses are living independently since more than a year,
  • Confirmation linking to the failed attempts of settlement,
  • Income tax statements for the last 2-3 years,
  • Data relating to family history
  • Specifications of properties and other assets owned by the applicant

[1] The Hindu Marriage Act is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted in 1955. Three other important acts were also enacted as part of the Hindu Code Bills during this time: the Hindu Succession Act, the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act

[2] An Act to consolidate and clarify the provisions of Muslim law relating to suits for dissolution of marriage by women married under Muslim law and to remove doubts as to the effect of the renunciation of Islam by a married Muslim woman on her marriage tie.

[3] Every Parsi who during the lifetime of his or her wife or husband, whether a Parsi or not, contracts a marriage without having been lawfully divorced from such wife or husband, or without his or her marriage with such wife or husband having legally been declared null and void or dissolved

[4] This Act may be called the Indian Divorce Act, and shall come into operation on the first day of April, 1869. 2, and to make decrees of dissolution, -or to make decrees of dissolution of marriage except where the parties to the marriage are domiciled in India at the time when the petition is presented, or of nullity.

[5] The Special Marriage Act, 1954 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to provide a special form of marriage for the people of India and all Indian nationals in foreign countries, irrespective of the religion or faith followed by either party

[6] Section 13B, inserted in the Hindu Marriage Act in 1976 to introduce divorce through mutual consent, provides for a total 18 months before a decree for divorce can be passed. Under Section 13B (1), a divorce petition can be moved by a couple following a judicial separation of one year

[7] Subject to the provisions of this Act and to the rules made thereunder, a petition for divorce may be presented to the district court by both the parties together on the ground that they have been living separately for a period of one year or more, that they have not been able to live together and that they have mutually agreed that the marriage should be dissolved.

[8] Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, a petition for dissolution of marriage may be presented to the District Court by both the parties to a marriage together, whether such marriage was solemnized before or after the commencement* of the Indian Divorce (Amendment) Act, 2001, on the ground that they have been living separately for a period of two years or more, that they have not been able to live together and they have mutually agreed that the marriage should be dissolved.

[9] Section 26 in The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955

[10] Section 13 in The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955

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