A. RANJITHKUMAR versus E. KAVITHA

A. RANJITHKUMAR versus E. KAVITHA

The Court held that the parties had been living separately since 2010 with no vestige of matrimonial relationship and the husband had remarried in 2017, so there was no possibility of reconciliation; accordingly, invoking Article 142 the Supreme Court dissolved the marriage and directed payment of permanent alimony of ₹1,25,00,000 to the wife, with payment schedule and consequences for default.

Parties
Appellant: A. Ranjithkumar; Respondent: E. Kavitha
Jurisdiction
India
Judgment Date
14 August 2025
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Final Judgment by the Supreme Court on Appeal
Outcome
Appeal allowed; impugned High Court order set aside; marriage dissolved by exercise of power under Article 142 subject to payment of permanent alimony.
Legal Topics
Dissolution of Marriage, Cruelty, Adultery, Irretrievable Breakdown, Permanent Alimony, Article 142
Family Law Constitutional Law Dissolution of Marriage Cruelty Adultery Irretrievable Breakdown Permanent Alimony Article 142

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Legal principles 2 Authorities cited 2 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

A. Ranjithkumar

Appellant

E. Kavitha

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Final Judgment by the Supreme Court on Appeal

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the High Court was correct in setting aside the Family Court decree of divorce
  2. 2 Whether the marriage had irretrievably broken down so as to permit dissolution under Article 142
  3. 3 Whether permanent alimony should be awarded and in what amount

Ratio Decidendi

The Court held that the parties had been living separately since 2010 with no vestige of matrimonial relationship and the husband had remarried in 2017, so there was no possibility of reconciliation; accordingly, invoking Article 142 the Supreme Court dissolved the marriage and directed payment of permanent alimony of ₹1,25,00,000 to the wife, with payment schedule and consequences for default.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed; impugned High Court order set aside; marriage dissolved by exercise of power under Article 142 subject to payment of permanent alimony.

Orders

  • Impugned order of the High Court dated 24.08.2018 set aside.
  • Marriage solemnized on 15.02.2009 stands dissolved by exercise of this Court's powers under Article 142 of the Constitution.