'Permanent Alimony Not Intended To Equalise Wealth': Karnataka High Court Slashes Wife's ₹2 Crore Alimony To ₹50 Lakh

The Karnataka High Court has recently upheld the dissolution of marriage between a couple on grounds of cruelty, while substantially reducing the permanent alimony awarded to the wife from Rs. 2 crores to Rs. 50 lakhs. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar 348]The court held further that permanent alimony is not intended to equalise the assets or wealth of the parties but to ensure reasonable maintenance....

Daughter-In-Law Not Liable When Senior Citizen's Own Children Alive: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently held that a daughter-in-law is not liable under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 when the senior citizen's children are alive. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 499]Justice Harisankar V. Menon observed that a daughter-in-law would not fall within the definition of 'child' nor 'relative' under the Act when the senior citizen has other...

'Hectic': Karnataka High Court Modifies Visitation To Prevent 950-Km Monthly Travel For 10-Yr-Old In Father's Custody

Child has literally become a victim of disputes between parents, Court said.

Jharkhand High Court Grants Interim Custody Of 4-Year-Old To Mother, Notes “Pain And Sacrifice” Associated With IVF Process

The Jharkhand High Court has held that the welfare and best interests of a minor child must be the paramount consideration in custody matters and, while granting interim custody of a four-year-old girl to her mother, took note of the fact that the child was born through IVF and the mother had endured the “pain and sacrifice associated therewith.”A Division Bench of Justice Sujit...

Wife's Frequent Visits To Maternal Home, Pressure To Live Separately Despite Husband Being Only Son Amounted To Cruelty: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court recently held that a wife, forcing an only son to leave the joint family to set up a separate residence and going to her maternal house frequently without reason, would constitute cruelty on the husband. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 438] The bench of Justice PT Asha and Justice N Mala thus refused to interfere with an order of a Family Court, granting divorce to the husband...

Bombay High Court Criticises Family Court's 'Regressive' Remarks On 'Pious Duties' Of Wife

The Bombay High Court recently expressed displeasure with a Pune Family Court for sermonising and setting out the so-called 'pious' duties of a wife towards her husband and handing over a minor boy's custody to his father. The High Court held that Judges must be 'mindful' while making observations and avoid making any 'unwarranted' or 'unconnected' remarks. For context, Family Court Judge...

Denial Of Cohabitation, False Criminal Case By Wife Amount To Cruelty: Rajasthan High Court Dissolves 22-Year-Old Marriage

The Rajasthan High Court has held that denial of cohabitation by the wife as well as filing of a false criminal case against the husband, amount to cruelty. The division bench of Justice Inderjeet Singh and Justice Sandeep Taneja was hearing an appeal against Family Court's rejection of a divorce application filed by the appellant-husband.It was the case of the husband that the marriage...

Long Cohabitation As Husband & Wife Raises Strong Presumption Of Valid Marriage, Heavy Burden On Party Challenging It: MP High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has held that where a man and woman have lived together for a long period as husband and wife, the legal presumption would favour the legitimacy of their marriage rather than its illegitimacy. [2026 LiveLaw (MP) 353]The bench of Justice Pranay Verma stated:"There is no one in the village except defendant no.2, who does not treat defendant nos.1 and 3 as husband...

Divorce Decree Doesn't Bar Subsequent Claim For Permanent Alimony Under Section 25 Hindu Marriage Act: MP High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has held that the fact that a decree of divorce has already been passed does not, by itself, preclude a spouse from seeking permanent alimony under Section 25 of the Hindu Marriage Act. [2026 LiveLaw (MP) 357]The Court accordingly held that the matrimonial court is competent to consider an application for permanent alimony even after the divorce decree.The bench...

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...