Fame Doesn't Create Exception: Karnataka High Court Grants Divorce To Actor 'Duniya Vijay', Awards ₹2 Crore Permanent Alimony To Wife

The Karnataka High Court has granted a decree of divorce to popular Kannada actor 'Duniya Vijay' (B.R. Vijay Kumar) on the ground of cruelty, while awarding Rs 2 crores as permanent alimony to his estranged wife, Nagarathna. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 343]“…Fame does not create an exception to a person's conduct but it magnifies its standard. When a man of public influence strays from the...

'Law Alone Not Enough, Judges Should Also Play Ball': Madras High Court Grants Mutual Consent Divorce After Family Court Declined Jurisdiction

The Madras High Court recently set aside an order of a Family Court, Thanjavur, refusing to grant mutual divorce to a couple, citing lack of territorial jurisdiction. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 432]. The bench of Justice GR Swaminathan and Justice MD Sumathi remarked that though the Special Marriage Act provides for dissolution of marriage without much adjudication when there...

Granddaughter Undergoing Studies Availing Loan Can't Be Expected To Maintain Pension-Drawing Grandmother: Kerala High Court

Kerala High Court recently held that a granddaughter, who is undergoing studies after availing a student loan, cannot be expected to maintain her pension-drawing grandmother. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 487]Justice Harisankar V. Menon dismissed an octogenarian's plea against her daughter-in-law and granddaughter seeking maintenance from them as per the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and...

Woman Marrying Divorcee Can't Claim Maintenance If She Fails To Verify Finality Of Divorce Decree: Karnataka High Court

The Dharwad Bench of Karnataka High Court has held that a woman who knowingly marries a man believing him to be a divorcee cannot claim maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) if she failed to verify whether the divorce decree had attained finality or was stayed in appeal. Justice Geetha K.B. dismissed a revision petition filed by a woman challenging the...

Wife Who Left Matrimonial Home During Covid To Care For Parents & Never Came Back Not Entitled To Maintenance: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has recently dismissed a revision plea filed by a wife seeking maintenance, holding that she failed to establish reasonable cause for leaving the matrimonial home, particularly when she left to care for COVID-affected parents and subsequently refused to return despite her husband's requests.The single judge bench of Dr. Justice Chilakur Sumalatha noted as below in...

Outsider's Alienation Of Joint Family Property Cannot Be Challenged In Partition Suit Between Coparceners: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has held that an alienation of joint family property made by an outsider cannot be made a subject matter of a partition suit between the members of the joint family. The Court observed that whether the outsider had title to pass on to the purchaser cannot be decided in a suit for partition of the joint family properties.Justice Sandeep V. Marne was hearing a writ...

'Justice Not Merely About Speed, Judgments Can't Be Obtained By Click Of Button': Karnataka High Court Refuses To Fast-Track Divorce Case

Judges can't be pressured with rigid deadlines, Court said.

'Subjected Children To Hardship': Karnataka High Court Orders Psychological Assessment Of Parents Amid Custody Battle

The Karnataka High Court directed a separated couple to undergo psychological assessment and counselling for “fair parenting”, while refusing the husband's plea to subject their minor twins to a psychological assessment to evaluate the extent of “parental alienation” allegedly caused by their mother. “Undoubtedly in case there is necessity for such psychological assessment...

'Joint Parenting' Not Recognised By Indian Laws, Focus Should Be On Child Welfare And Not Parental Rights: Bombay High Court

A strict 50-50 split is not a practical solution and may lead to further conflicts, Court said.

Coparcener Can Orally Relinquish Rights In Ancestral Property Without Written Registered Document: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has held that a coparcener can orally relinquish his or her share in ancestral property in favour of another coparcener, without executing a written instrument or getting it registered. The Court, however, clarified that such relinquishment has to be proved by the person asserting it and cannot be presumed merely from a document executed for deletion of the coparcener's...

Husband Cannot Reagitate Settled Marriage Dispute To Escape Maintenance Liability: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that a husband cannot reopen a marriage dispute that has already been finally decided in earlier proceedings in order to avoid his liability to maintain his wife under Section 125 CrPC. [2026 LiveLaw (Del) 794]Justice Saurabh Banerjee made the observation while dismissing a revision petition filed by a husband challenging a Family Court order directing him to...

Marriage Officer Can't Insist On Nepali Woman's Single Status Certificate To Solemnise Marriage Under SMA: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently clarified that a marriage officer cannot refuse to solemnize a marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 by citing expired “single status certificate”. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 474]Justice Harisankar V. Menon was considering a writ petition preferred by a man, who was aggrieved by the Marriage Officer's refusal to solemnize his marriage with a...