mr.rajesh, Thanks. right to live with dignity - is the personal liberty under art 21 of the C.O.I.
People why crying for divorce? Because there dignity is at stake. they fill they are being insulted by carrying an unwanted person in the name of marriage. think Smita sinde's case and other cases. all these are quite unnecessarily. If divorce treated as personal liberty, like 'talak' of islam and tribals of india then what is the loss? are they not indian? The indians were enjoyed divorce according to their religious rites. it was snatched by HMA & IPC. Our codified law is influenced by cannon law. Catholic church ideal in regard to marriage ls " ...till death .". Therefore it is introduced in hma that till death they (the spouses) will be punished in the name of marriage. who is happy in such a Failed marriage.If one party refuse to do the matrimonial duties can a court or the other spouse compel him/her to resume the matrimonial duties? Think about the (sec.9/hma) restitution of conjugal rights (rcr)..what is it's end, if the unwilling spouse ignore the order of restitution? then not only the spouse willing to continue the marriage but also the spouse unwilling also have the right to obtain divorce at his/her own discreation (sec13(1A)/hma.) - which is equivalent to personal liberty. Sec 13 (1a) quoted bellow "
(1A) Either party to a marriage, whether solemnized before or after the commencement of this Act, may also present a petition for the dissolution of the marriage by a decree of divorce on the ground-
(i) that there has been no resumption of cohabitation as between the parties to the marriage for a period of one year or upwards after the passing of a decree for judicial separation in a proceeding to which they were parties; or
(ii) that there has been no restitution of conjugal rights as between the parties to the marriage for a period of one year or upwards after the passing of a decree for restitution of conjugal rights in a proceeding to which they were parties." Not only RCR, Judicial seperation also gets the same status. Again recall sec 13B of HMA, where the spouses jointly can apply and it will be granted, without any further question,which is equal to personal liberty. but if one withdraw his/her consent other will loose his personal liberty. Is the personal liberty depends upon the other's personal liberty. Personal liberty under art.21 of COI is a right of an individual. one individual is the owener of it, and not a group. THIS RIGHT IS VERY INDIVIDUAL and not of a group of two or more. Smita sinde case is best example of it.. sec 13B/HMA quoted bellow.
"13B. Divorce by mutual consent.
(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act a petition for dissolution of marriage by a decree of divorce may be presented to the district court by both the parties to a marriage together, whether such marriage was solemnized before or after the commencement of the Marriage Laws (Amendment) Act, 1976, (68 of 1976.) on the ground that
they have been living separately for a period of one year or more,
that they have not been able to live together and
that they have mutually agreed that the marriage should be dissolved.
(2) On the motion of both the parties made not earlier than six months after the date of the presentation of the petition referred to in sub-section (1) and not later than eighteen months after the said date, if the petition is not withdrawn in the meantime, the court shall, on being satisfied, after hearing the parties and after making such inquiry as it thinks fit, that
a marriage has been solemnized and
that the averments in the petition are true,
pass a decree of divorce declaring the marriage to be dissolved with effect from the date of the decree"
Personal liberty can not be snatched by one individual. A Man is equiped by law. It's equipment can not be snatched. It can not be equipment less by a civilised sociaty.
Thanks to mr agarwal mr.daksh also .