Divorce Under Hindu Marriage Act, 1955

Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 ke under divorce ka matlab sirf shaadi khatam karna nahi, balki dono spouses ko ek fair aur dignified exit dena bhi hai. Broadly, divorce ke do major raaste hain — mutual consent (aapas ki sahmati se) aur contested divorce (jab ek party agree nahi karti).

1. Mutual Consent Divorce – Section 13B

Ye sabse practical aur comparatively less stressful tareeka mana jata hai.

• Dono spouses milkar decide karte hain ki unhe alag hona hai.
• Generally, कम से कम 1 saal ka separation dikhana padta hai.
• Section 13B(2) ke under traditionally 6 months ki “cooling-off” period thi, jise Supreme Court ne kuch cases me waive karne ki permission di hai (matlab court zarurat padne par 6 mahine ka wait hata sakta hai).
• Mutual consent me normally maintenance, streedhan, custody, etc. pe pehle se written agreement hota hai.

Process (simple overview):

• Joint petition file hoti hai (dono ke signatures ke saath).
• Court verify karta hai ki consent free aur voluntary hai.
• Cooling-off period ke baad second motion (final hearing) hoti hai.
• Court decree of divorce pass karta hai.

2. Contested Divorce – Section 13

Jab ek spouse divorce chahta hai aur doosra agree nahi karta, to contested divorce file hota hai. Yahan par ground prove karne padte hain.

Common Grounds under Section 13

• Cruelty – mental ya physical cruelty; repeated insults, violence, humiliation, etc.
• Adultery – spouse ka kisi aur ke saath sexual relationship.
• Desertion – bina reason aur consent ke कम से कम 2 saal ke liye chhod dena.
• Conversion of religion – Hindu religion chhodkar kisi aur religion ko adopt kar lena.
• Mental disorder – aisi condition jo marital life ko difficult ya impossible bana de (court medical evidence dekhta hai).
• Communicable venereal disease – serious sexually transmitted diseases.

Contested divorce zyada time-taking aur emotionally exhausting ho sakta hai, kyunki is me evidence, witnesses, cross-examination sab shamil hote hain.

3. Courts & Jurisdiction

Divorce petition kahaan file ki ja sakti hai?

• Jahan marriage solemnise hui (shaadi hui).
• Jahan husband–wife ka last residence together tha.
• Jahan wife presently reside karti hai — us jagah ka Family Court bhi jurisdiction rakhta hai (ye wife-friendly provision hai).

4. Practical Tips & Strategy

• Agar possible ho to pehle mutual consent divorce ka option explore karein — time, cost aur stress काफी kam hote hain.
• Financial issues (maintenance, alimony, streedhan, children’s expenses) ke bare me clear written understanding rakhein.
• Child custody matters always “best interest of the child” principle par decide hote hain — ego ya badle ki भावना se nahi.
• Sirf social pressure, log kya kahenge ya emotional guilt ke basis par decision mat lein — legally informed decision lena zaroori hai.

Note: Har case ke facts alag hote hain. Same section ke under bhi final result ground, evidence aur parties ke conduct par depend karega. Isliye kisi bhi serious step se pehle proper legal advice lena bahut zaroori hai.