The Supreme Court dissolved a marriage under Article 142 of the Constitution, holding that the relationship had irretrievably broken down and was “dead for all practical purposes.” The Court set aside decisions of the Family Court and Andhra Pradesh High Court while directing a comprehensive financial settlement.
The Allahabad High Court held that Lok Adalats and District Legal Services Authorities cannot grant divorce decrees, ruling that only family courts possess jurisdiction to dissolve marriages, while Lok Adalats are limited to facilitating settlements and lack authority to exercise judicial powers in matrimonial disputes.
The Allahabad High Court observed that a judicial officer ranks above the district magistrate, police chief, and political executive while discharging judicial duties. Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal made the remark after Uttar Pradesh Police failed to follow a Chief Judicial Magistrate’s CCTV production order.
