The husband and his father had remained in jail for 109 and 103 days respectively in the cases registered by the woman.
In a rare directive, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a woman and her parents to publicly apologize for harassing her former husband and his family by initiating multiple legal cases against them.
Due to these complaints, the husband and his father spent 109 and 103 days in jail, respectively. The Bench, led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, noted that the family had suffered considerable physical and emotional trauma.
Consequently, the Court instructed the woman, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, and her parents to publish an apology in newspapers and on social media within three days.
“What they have suffered cannot be resituated or compensated in any manner. xxx and her parents shall tender an unconditional apology to the husband and his Family members which shall be published in the national edition of the renowned one English and one Hindi newspaper. Such apology shall also be published and circulated on all social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other similar platforms,” the Court ordered.
The Court, however, clarified that the apology should not be seen as an admission of guilt and would have no impact on the legal rights, liabilities, or consequences arising under the law.
The couple, who married in 2015 and share a daughter, separated in 2018 due to ongoing matrimonial issues and disputes involving their respective families. After the separation, both parties initiated several legal proceedings against each other and their family members.
The Court awarded custody of the child to the mother, granting the father and his family supervised visitation rights.
It further recorded the wife’s decision to forgo any claim to alimony or maintenance, along with any rights over properties owned or possessed by the husband and his family.
While settling the dispute, the Court quashed all civil and criminal cases filed by either party and imposed certain additional terms and conditions.
The marriage between the couple was also formally dissolved by the Court.
“In terms of the above observations, directions and conditions/settlement, we deem it appropriate to invoke our power under Article 142 of the Constitution of India and order for dissolution of marriage between…The decree of divorce shall be drawn up accordingly,” the Court ordered.
