The Gujarat High Court held that a registered marriage certificate alone cannot validate a Hindu marriage if essential ceremonies under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 were not performed. The Court said registration only proves an already solemnised marriage and cannot create a valid marital bond.
The Chhattisgarh High Court held that a long-term live-in relationship between consenting adults creates a presumption of consensual physical relations. The Court ruled that a later refusal to marry cannot automatically amount to rape and dismissed an appeal challenging the accused’s acquittal.
The Jharkhand High Court upheld a divorce decree after observing that a 36-year separation had turned the marriage into a “dead wood marriage.” While ending the decades-long relationship, the Court increased permanent alimony for the wife from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 40 lakh.
The Telangana High Court annulled a marriage after finding that the husband had misrepresented his date of birth on an online matrimonial platform. The Court held that the incorrect age details misled the wife regarding horoscope compatibility, leading her to consent to marriage under a mistaken belief.
The Supreme Court held that persistent refusal of sexual relations without reasonable cause constitutes mental cruelty and can be a valid ground for divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act. Upholding a Rajasthan High Court judgment, the Court dismissed a wife’s appeal challenging the dissolution of marriage.
