Most Divorces Arise From Love Marriages Says Supreme Court But What's Wrong With Ending A Marriage?

Recently, when a two-judge bench of BR Gavai and Sanjay Karol was hearing a matrimonial petition, they were informed that the marriage was a love marriage and the petition arose out of a love dispute. Justice Gavai on hearing the same remarked, “Most divorces are arising from love marriages only.” Following the hearing, the Bench called for meditation between the couple.

SC's latest remark has once again underlined the shaming over love marriages in the country. No matter how common love matches are today, social shaming doesn't seem to end.

What's The Issue With Love Marriages?

Even though the constitution of India recognises love marriage between two individuals, be it an inter-caste or inter-religious under the special marriage act 1954, they haven't got social acceptance. Couples opting for a love marriage are despised even today by many. They continue to face challenges like convincing their parents, keeping their families happy, and adapting to a different caste or religion among others. If they manage to tie the knot and things don't go well, people are quick to mock the couple for not marrying someone their parents chose.

Unfortunately, the sad reality is that arranged marriages fall apart too. Differences between the married couple can grow over time and this is the case with both arranged and love marriages. Sadly, society only looks down on love marriages.

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Is Divorce A Sin?

Every couple wishes for a lifelong relationship, they want their marriage to work. However, there are times when things just don't work in their favour and they end up parting ways. Even though divorce is legal in India on grounds of cruelty, mutual consent, adultery, and conversion among others, it isn't considered normal. The separation brings along the 'shame' label for the couple. Marriage is sacred - this internalised notion majorly contributes to the shaming associated with divorce.

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How hard is it for us to accept that relationships can fail and it is okay, it isn't the end of the world? Getting divorced isn't the easiest for the married couple too but if they feel their life will get better, and happier, why the shaming?

It is time we all reset our mindset and get over the stigma attached to love marriages, divorces in India. How hard is it to let people live their lives their way?

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court granted married couples the right to divorce on the grounds of “irretrievable breakdown of marriage” under Article 142 of the constitution. The ruling came for marriages that were emotionally dead and unworkable. The verdict applies to cases where both parties want a mutual consent divorce or where one of the partners wants to seek a divorce despite opposition from the other.