India’s Supreme Court has refused a divorce request by an 89-year-old man attempting to end his 60-year marriage for the past 27 years. Despite the low prevalence of divorce in India, largely due to societal and family pressures, the court usually requires evidence of cruelty, violence, or undue financial strain before granting one.
Nirmal Singh Panesar, who tied the knot in 1963, claimed his marital relationship became strained in 1984. His wife, Paramjit Kaur Panesar, 82, chose not to relocate with him to Chennai that year, leading to their separation. Nirmal’s initial divorce application, citing cruelty and desertion, was approved in 2000 by a district court but later annulled following an appeal by Paramjit.
It took another twenty years for the case to reach the Supreme Court. Even though the court acknowledged the irreparable state of their marriage, they rejected Nirmal’s plea. The court’s ruling emphasized the sacred nature of marriage in Indian culture and mentioned that granting a divorce would be unfair to Paramjit. She had conveyed her desire not to bear the “stigma” of being divorced and expressed her commitment to the sanctity of their union.
Long-standing delays in India’s legal system often result in cases taking an extended time for resolution. As of last year, over 43 million cases awaited judgment across the country.
