Supreme Court Quashes Domestic Violence Case, Dissolves Marriage Under Article 142
Case Title: D R v. R Date of Judgment: April 13, 2026 In a significant ruling for matrimonial jurisprudence, the Supreme Court of India has exercised its extraordinary powers under Article 142 to dissolve a marriage on the grounds of irretrievable breakdown , while simultaneously quashing domestic violence proceedings that it deemed an "afterthought" and an "abuse of process" . The Road to the Supreme Court The couple married in 2000 and separated in 2022-23 following matrimonial disputes . After the husband filed for divorce on grounds of adultery and cruelty, the parties entered a Settlement Agreement in May 2024 through mediation . The Agreement Terms Included: Alimony: A total payment of ₹1.5 crore to the wife . Asset Transfer: The wife would relinquish rights to several properties, shares, and policies bought in her name by the husband . Withdrawal of Cases: Both parties agreed to refrain from future civil or criminal litigation . While the first m...