G N SUBRAMANYA UPADHYAYA Vs. SOUMYA M. HEGDE
Supreme Court of India (Division Bench (DB)- Two Judge)
Appeal (Civil), 4385 of 2017, Judgment Date: Mar 22, 2017
NON-REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL/CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 4385 OF 2017
[@ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) NO. 35153 OF 2016 ]
G N SUBRAMANYA UPADHYAYA Appellant(s)
VERSUS
SOUMYA M. HEGDE Respondent(s)
WITH
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1626 OF 2015
WITH
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1624 OF 2015
J U D G M E N T
KURIAN, J.
Crl. Appeal No. 1626 OF 2015 and
Crl. Appeal No. 1624 OF 2015
1. The learned counsel for the appellant, on instruction, seeks leave to
withdraw these appeals. Permission is granted. The appeals are,
accordingly, dismissed as withdrawn.
Civil Appeal No. 4385 of 2017 [@ SLP (C) No. 35153 of 2016]
1. Leave granted.
2. The appellant is before this Court, aggrieved by the order passed by
the High Court, whereby the decree of divorce granted by the Family Court
at the instance of the respondent-wife has been affirmed by the High Court.
It is seen that the High Court has taken note of the fact that the
marriage between the parties has irretrievably broken down. However, it
may be noted that merely because of the irretrievable break down of the
marriage, divorce cannot be granted.
3. Be that as it may, we also find that there are certain findings
regarding the alleged cruelty.
4. The parties are present before this Court today. We are informed
that both of them have been living separately for the last more than seven
years. They have no children. They have lived together barely for three
months. The parties also had the assistance of Smt.Sunita Rao, learned
counsel. The appellant-husband is a Cardiologist and the respondent-wife
is an Ayurvedic Doctor. Both the appellant and the respondent submit that
they have decided to purchase peace and part as friends and hence, their
marriage may be dissolved by a decree of divorce by mutual consent.
5. Having regard to the background of the litigation between the
parties, having regard to the long separation and having regard to the
submission that both of them have taken a mature and sober decision out of
their own free will to part, we are of the view that this is a case to
invoke our jurisdiction under Article 142 of the Constitution of India.
6. The parties have also filed an application in that regard, which is
signed by both the parties in Court today. The same is taken on record.
7. Therefore, the appeal is disposed of as follows :-
i) The Judgment of the Family Court, as affirmed by the High Court, is
set aside.
ii) The marriage between the appellant and the respondent is dissolved by
way of a decree of divorce by mutual consent.
iii) The appellant shall pay an amount of Rs.5,00,000/- (Rupees Five
Lakhs) towards full and final settlement of the entire monetary claims of
the respondent, including arrears of maintenance and alimony, within six
months from today.
iv) The parties agree that they shall not initiate any litigation against
each other, either civil or criminal, without leave of this Court.
v) The parties shall exchange whatever jewelery they have of each other.
To the best of memory of the appellant, he has one necklace of the
respondent, which is kept in his house in Karnataka and as far as the
respondent is concerned, to the best of her memory, there is only
'Mangalsutra' given by husband. Be that as it may, in case the parties
find that there are any more items of jewelery or other valuables of each
other, they will return the same to the other side within two weeks from
today.
With the above observations and directions, the appeal is disposed
of.
.......................J.
[ KURIAN JOSEPH ]
.......................J.
[ R. BANUMATHI ]
New Delhi;
March 22, 2017.