Uttarakhand: The Uttarakhand High Court sought a response from the state government within six weeks regarding multiple petitions challenging the recently implemented Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Chief Justice G Narender, while hearing one such petition on Friday, observed that anyone facing action under the UCC in the meantime could approach the court for relief.
The Supreme Court of India ruled that spouses in void marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act can claim alimony and maintenance. This decision clarifies legal ambiguities regarding maintenance rights, allowing for both permanent and interim assistance, and emphasizes the protection of women’s dignity while dismissing arguments against maintenance based on morality.
The Delhi High Court has granted bail to a businessman accused of raping his partner under false pretenses of marriage and blackmailing her for money. The court found insufficient grounds for arrest and emphasized that the consensual nature of their relationship and financial allegations will be evaluated at trial. Both parties were deemed capable adults.
A 52-year-old man died by suicide in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal after his wife filed a dowry harassment case against him after 30 years of marriage. When the man was in hospital, his wife approached the police and filed another complaint against him, claiming that he attempted suicide to pressure her into withdrawing the case, a police officer said.
The Allahabad High Court ruled that a Hindu marriage cannot be dissolved within a year based on mutual incompatibility, requiring “exceptional hardship or depravity” per Section 14 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The court upheld a Family Court’s dismissal of a divorce petition, emphasizing the sanctity of marriage and legal process compliance.
The Supreme Court of India clarified that disapproval of a marriage alone does not constitute abetment of suicide under Section 306 IPC. In the case of Laxmi Das vs State of West Bengal, the court ruled that the appellant’s actions were too indirect to warrant charges and emphasized the necessity of a direct role in instigation for such allegations.
The Supreme Court Today (Jan 20) postponed the hearing of a Bihar Policewoman’s plea challenging a Patna High Court decision that quashed an FIR against IPS officer Pushkar Anand, whom she accused of rape under a false promise of marriage. The court directed amendments to the petition, while the plea argued the High Court ignored evidence and legal principles in dismissing the case.
Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi emphasized the significance of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as a vital step toward national integration. He stated that implementing the UCC does not conflict with Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, which safeguard the right to religion. According to Gogoi, the UCC can foster unity while respecting religious freedoms. This view supports the Constitution’s aim of promoting equality and unity among different communities.
A woman Deputy Superintendent of Police from Bihar has appealed to the Supreme Court against a Patna High Court decision dismissing her complaint of rape against an IPS officer. She alleges the officer misused his position of authority to establish a relationship, promising marriage, which he later denied citing vague reasons. The court had earlier ruled their relationship was consensual, but the woman insists the FIR and evidence clearly show the commission of the crime. The Supreme Court will now review the case.
The Supreme Court of India will review pleas on January 9, challenging its October 2023 ruling that denied legal recognition for same-sex marriages. The five-judge bench will evaluate around 13 petitions. Despite denying legal status, the court emphasized LGBTQIA++ rights and highlighted the necessity for legislative action for marriage recognition.
