Section 10A of the Divorce Act, 1869 | 14 Dec 2022

For Prelims: Fundamental Rights, Secularism, Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

For Mains: Significance of Uniform Marriage Code, Right to Judicial Remedy.

Why In News?

Recently, the Kerala High Court stated that the stipulation of the period of one year or more for filing a divorce petition by mutual consent under Section 10 A of the Divorce Act, 1869 violates fundamental rights and is unconstitutional.

  • The court suggested to the Union government that there should be a uniform marriage code in India to promote the common welfare and good of spouses in matrimonial disputes.

Why did the Court Strike Down Section 10A of the Indian Divorce Act, 1869?

  • The Section 10A is discriminatory because of the reason that different communities in equal circumstances are given different treatment.
  • The legislature cannot take away liberty without adequately safeguarding the interest of the individuals whose interests to seek remedy are affected even if such legislation intends to achieve laudable objectives.
  • The right to a judicial remedy curtailed by statutory provisions, which is a violative of a fundamental right.
    • The right to life encompasses judicial remedy as well.

What is the Source of Section 10A of the Indian Divorce Act,1869?

  • The one-year period is stipulated in Section 28(1) of the Special Marriage Act, Section 13B (1) of the Hindu Marriage Act and Section 32B (1) of the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act.
  • Earlier the Section 10A of the Indian Divorce Act mandated a 2-years waiting period for the application of divorce.
  • The Kerala High Court itself, in Saumya Ann Thomas v. The Union of India & Ors. (2010) held that the stipulation of a period of two years as the minimum mandatory period under Section 10A was arbitrary and oppressive and the period of two years has to be read as one year.
  • Article 8 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national Tribunals for acts violating fundamental rights granted by the constitution or by law.

What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

  • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone in the history of human rights.
  • The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris, December 1948 on Human Right Day.
  • Every year Human Rights Day is celebrated on 10th December all around the world.
  • It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected.
  • Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
  • All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Conclusion

  • The basic motive behind the mandated one-year period to apply for the divorce is basically intended to provide the proper time to the couples to understand each other and different family culture. It is not necessary that in every matrimonial case this approach works with the same outcome so there should be some other remedial measures to get rid of toxic marital relationships.
  • The Kerala High Court is basically trying to conserve the right to dignified life of the couples who are facing severe hardship in their married life.

Source: IE