Supreme Court dissolves IPS officer’s marriage using Article 142 and orders unconditional apology for filing 15 cases. All litigations quashed; both parties agree to move on peacefully.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has brought an end to a prolonged and emotionally exhausting legal dispute between IPS officer Shivangi Bansal (also known as Shivangi Goel) and her ex-husband Sahib Bansal and his family.
The apex court dissolved their marriage using its extraordinary constitutional powers under Article 142, and directed the woman and her parents to issue an unconditional public apology to her former in-laws, acknowledging the emotional distress and harassment caused by multiple legal complaints filed against them.
As per court records, the couple had married in 2015 in Delhi as per Hindu rites, and welcomed a daughter in 2016. However, due to severe matrimonial differences, the two began living separately from 2018.
Following their separation, Shivangi Bansal filed at least 15 separate legal cases against her husband and his family, which included criminal cases, domestic violence, maintenance, and even complaints under the Income Tax Act.
In response, her husband and his family filed 10 cases. An additional five complaints were filed by third parties.
After years of hostile litigation, the couple mutually agreed to end all disputes and seek peace. During court proceedings, Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra appeared for Shivangi Bansal, while Senior Advocate Vikas Singh represented the husband’s side.
Both sides informed the court that they wished to settle all pending litigations — including matters of child custody — and bring the prolonged conflict to a peaceful and permanent close.
On July 22, 2025, a Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih accepted the settlement and passed a historic judgment.
Using Article 142, the court granted the divorce, quashed all pending civil and criminal cases between both families, and mandated the publishing of a public apology in leading national newspapers and on social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
In the published apology, Shivangi Bansal wrote:
“I Shivangi Bansal/Shivangi Goel, D/o Sh. Rajesh Goel, R/o. RS – Niwas, Gandhi Colony, Pilkuwa, UP, hereby sincerely apologise on my and on behalf of my parents for any of my words, action or stories which may have hurt or caused annoyance to the feelings of members of Bansal family namely, Sh. Mukesh Bansal, Smt. Manju Bansal, Sh. Sahib Bansal, Sh. Chirag Bansal and Smt. Shipra Jain.”
She admitted that the various legal allegations had created tension and harmed the emotional and mental well-being of her former in-laws. She wrote:
“I understand that the various allegations and legal battles have created an atmosphere of animosity and have deeply impacted your wellbeing. While the legal proceedings have now concluded with the dissolution of our marriage and the quashing of pending litigations between parties, I understand that the emotional scars may take time to heal. I sincerely hope that this apology can be a step towards finding some peace and closure for all of us.”
Further, she emphasized her hope for peace and an amicable future for both families:
“It is regretted and I sincerely hope for peace and an amicable future for both the families. For peace, good health, prosperity and happiness of both families going forward, I sincerely hope that Bansal family will accept my this unconditional apology.”
Reflecting on the emotional toll of the past, she added:
“However dark the past may be, it cannot hold the future captive. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Bansal Family that through my life experience with them, I became a more spiritual person.”
Shivangi, who described herself as a practicing Buddhist, expressed her sincere prayers for her former in-laws:
“As a practicing Buddhist, I sincerely wish and pray for peace, security and happiness of each member of Bansal family.”
She also offered a gesture of reconciliation concerning their daughter:
“Here I reiterate that Bansal Family is most welcome to meet and get to know the girl child born out of the wedlock who is at no fault whatsoever.”
She signed off with:
“With respect and regards, Shivangi Goel / Shivangi Bansal”
In addition to the apology, the Supreme Court laid down several conditions to ensure a peaceful separation and future non-interference:
- The mother (Shivangi) will retain custody of the daughter, who has been living with her since 2018.
- The father and his family will have visitation rights.
- The woman voluntarily waived all claims to alimony or maintenance from her husband.
- She also agreed to forgo any claim over the husband’s and his family’s movable or immovable property.
- The court set aside an earlier Allahabad High Court order that had asked the husband to pay ₹1.5 lakh per month as maintenance.
Importantly, the court made it clear that:
“The apology was made with the sole intention of bringing about amicable closure to the protracted legal battle and associated emotional and mental stress, and it should not be construed as an admission of liability and would have no bearing on the legal rights, obligations, or consequences arising under law.”
The court also ruled that Shivangi Bansal shall not misuse her position as an IPS officer, or that of her colleagues or acquaintances, to cause any harm — physical, mental, or legal — to her ex-husband or his family.
To bring a final close to the bitter conflict, the bench directed:
“To bring an end to the protracted legal battle between the parties and to secure complete justice, all pending criminal and civil litigations filed by either party against the other, including but not limited to those against the wife, the husband, and his family members, in any court or forum in India are hereby quashed and/or withdrawn.”
Also, the bench ordered that all cases filed by third parties related to this family dispute be quashed.
Further, both sides agreed not to interfere in each other’s personal or professional lives, and not to associate with business rivals or act in ways that might damage one another’s career or reputation.
To restore dignity, the court also removed prior adverse comments made by the Allahabad High Court against the woman, stating:
“As this matter is being settled by the present order, all allegations made by either party, their family members, or their representatives against each other on various social media platforms, including interviews and statements by the wife or husband that directly allege against each other and/or their family, shall be deleted from the web.”
Case Title:
Shivangi Bansal vs. Sahib Bansal [Transfer Petition (C) No. 2367 of 2023], and other connected matters
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