The wife claimed that her in-laws were against the marriage since she belonged to a Scheduled Caste and because of this, the husband's father stayed away from her family members. (AI-generated image)The Karnataka High Court has confirmed the divorce of a Bengaluru couple who told the court that their marriage had “lost its significance and efficacy” and that their relationship was “dead”, with nothing surviving between them, while directing the husband to pay Rs 25 lakh as permanent alimony to his wife in five equal instalments.Justices D K Singh and T M Nadaf were hearing the appeal filed by the wife who challenged the December 2021 order of the family court that allowed the husband’s application and dissolved the marriage.“Both the parties (husband and wife) submitted that the marriage had lost its significance and efficacy, and the relationship between them is dead and nothing survives between them, and there is no purpose or meaning in continuing the marital relationship and that they had no issue (child) from the wedlock,” the August 27 order read.The couple had a love marriage in the presence of elders and relatives of both families in November 2013. The husband claimed that the marriage did not start happily and his wife, from day one of the marriage, was not happy to stay with his parents.He stated that the bitterness between them slowly grew until they started living separately from May 2016. Later, the wife allegedly approached him through an email seeking divorce by mutual consent without permanent alimony. Justices D K Singh and T M Nadaf pronounced the order on August 27.‘Treated differently over caste’On the contrary, the wife claimed that her in-laws were against the marriage since she belonged to a Scheduled Caste and added that because of the caste barrier, the husband’s father stayed away from her family members. She added that the in-laws never ate any food she prepared because of her caste.Also Read | Karnataka High Court upholds Rs 15 lakh alimony: ‘Able-bodied husband has to work’Ultimately, the family court allowed the husband’s petition and granted a decree of divorce in 2021. Aggrieved, the wife moved the high court. She claimed that the husband was earning Rs 20,000 at the time of marriage in 2013, while he claimed that she worked in a private company and earned around Rs 1 lakh, which was more than his salary.Story continues below this adThe woman was represented by advocates Nidhi Shetty and Ramesh K. The husband was represented by advocate Kapil Dixit.Husband directed to pay Rs 25 lakhThe high court noted that the husband, after much deliberation, came forward to settle the dispute by paying a permanent alimony of Rs 15 lakh in three monthly instalments. However, the wife held on to the amount of Rs 40 lakh.The judges finally directed the husband to pay Rs 25 lakh as permanent alimony, in five equal instalments of Rs 5 lakh each, starting from September. “Any failure on the part of the husband to pay the sum directed would entail the wife to execute a decree seeking payment directed in this appeal,” it added.The court, while disposing of the appeal, noted that the couple had stated that they would withdraw cases filed against one another in view of divorce and the permanent alimony paid.Richa Sahay is a Legal Correspondent for The Indian Express (Digital), where she focuses on simplifying the complexities of the Indian judicial system. A law postgraduate, she leverages her advanced legal education to bridge the gap between technical court rulings and public understanding, ensuring that readers stay informed about the rapidly evolving legal landscape. Expertise Advanced Legal Education: As a law postgraduate, Richa possesses the academic depth required to interpret intricate statutes and constitutional nuances. Her background allows her to provide more than just summaries; she offers context-driven analysis of how legal changes impact the average citizen. Specialized Beat: She operates at the intersection of law and public policy, focusing on: Judicial Updates: Providing timely reports on orders from the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts. Legal Simplification: Translating dense "legalese" into accessible, engaging narratives without sacrificing factual accuracy. Legislative Changes: Monitoring new bills, amendments, and regulatory shifts that shape Indian society. ... Read More