Mamta Devi v. Sanjay Kumar 2026 INSC 346 - Matrimonial - Wife Cruelty
Note - No legal aspects discussed in this judgment -The Supreme Court upheld concurrent findings of the Family Court and the Jharkhand High Court that the wife’s conduct amounted to cruelty and that she had deserted the husband within the meaning of Sections 13(1)(ia) and 13(1)(ib) of the Hindu Marriage Act.
Case Info
Case name: Mamta Devi v. Sanjay Kumar
Neutral citation: 2026 INSC 346
Coram:Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta
Judgment date: 10 April 2026 (Supreme Court of India, Civil Appellate Jurisdiction)
Statutes / laws referred:
- Hindu Marriage Act, 1955/1956 – Sections 13(1)(ia) (cruelty) and 13(1)(ib) (desertion)
Brief summary (three sentences):The Supreme Court upheld concurrent findings of the Family Court and the Jharkhand High Court that the wife’s conduct amounted to cruelty and that she had deserted the husband within the meaning of Sections 13(1)(ia) and 13(1)(ib) of the Hindu Marriage Act. The Court noted persistent matrimonial discord, complaints about the wife’s behavior, the District Welfare Committee’s direction that the children live with their paternal grandfather, the son’s testimony supporting cruelty, and the parties’ admitted separation since 2018 as showing an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. While affirming the decree of divorce, the Court enhanced financial support by directing the husband to pay the wife maintenance of Rs. 10,000 per month from the date of the order.
