Rare Divorce Case in Supreme Court: Wife Returns Mother-in-Law’s Bangles, Refuses Alimony

The Supreme Court of India recently handled a rare divorce case, where the wife not only refused to claim alimony but also returned the gold bangles gifted by her mother-in-law at the time of marriage. The court appreciated this gesture as an extraordinary example of fairness and goodwill.

A Marriage Ended Amicably

During the hearing, the wife’s lawyer informed the bench that the wife had not sought any maintenance or financial compensation. The only pending matter was the return of the bangles, which were originally gifted by the husband’s mother. Initially, the court misunderstood that the wife was claiming her stridhan (marital property), but this was clarified immediately.

Justice Pardiwala remarked that this is a very rare settlement where the wife did not demand anything from her husband and voluntarily returned the jewelry. The bench praised her generosity, noting that such acts are increasingly uncommon in contemporary times.

Court Uses Special Powers to Dissolve Marriage

Invoking its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court dissolved the marriage and directed that any pending proceedings, if any, between the parties be closed. The court also advised the wife to forget past grievances and lead a happy life moving forward.

Significance

This case stands out as a rare instance of amicable separation, highlighting the values of fairness and mutual respect. Unlike most divorce cases that involve claims for alimony, maintenance, or property, this settlement was purely unilateral and voluntary, setting a precedent for generosity in marital disputes.