Church cannot grant divorce, rules apex court

NEWDELHI: Churches do not have power to grant divorce decrees, the Supreme Court held on Wednesday, affirming only civil courts have the jurisdiction to adjudicate matrimonial dispute among Christian couples.

A bench of Chief Justice JS Khehar and justice DY Chandrachud dismissed an 87-year-old Karnataka resident’s petition, saying it is devoid of merits. The ruling means the Indian Divorce Act, 1989, will override the Christian personal law that will not have any power to nullify marriages. The court order came after additional solicitor general Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for the Centre, said the SC had settled the debate in 1996 wherein it was held that Indian courts have the authority to annul Christian marriages.

Advocate MP Raju, who appeared for activists opposing the petition, welcomed the order, saying Canon law was not woman friendly since it did not provide for any maintenance.