Supreme Court orders ₹1.25 crore in five instalments
August 25, 2025 2025-08-25 22:03Supreme Court orders ₹1.25 crore in five instalments
Supreme Court orders ₹1.25 crore in five instalments
Keerti Case: A. Ranjithkumar v. E. Kavitha
Bench: Vikram Nath & Sandeep Mehta, JJ. • Date: 14 Aug 2025
Forum: Supreme Court of India (Civil Appellate Jurisdiction)
Download the judgment
- Direct link: Download the Judgment (PDF)
Why this judgment went viral — and what’s actually true
There’s been a lot of noise online claiming, “₹1.25 crore was given after adultery.” That’s false. The Family Court’s divorce was on cruelty (not adultery), and the High Court later set it aside. When the case reached the Supreme Court, the Court noted 15 years of separation and failed mediation, and used Article 142 to give closure: dissolve the marriage and structure a lump-sum payout.
Key snippet: “The marriage stands dissolved… subject to the husband paying ₹1,25,00,000 as permanent alimony… in five equal quarterly instalments. In default of any instalment, this order shall stand recalled, and any amount already paid shall stand forfeited.”
What the Court actually ordered
- Conditional dissolution under Article 142
The marriage is dissolved subject to payment of the lump-sum. - Permanent alimony: ₹1,25,00,000 (one-time)
Payable to the wife, covering the mother-and-child situation recorded in the judgment. - Payment schedule (₹25,00,000 × 5):
- 15 Sep 2025
- 15 Dec 2025
- 15 Mar 2026
- 15 Jun 2026
- 15 Sep 2026
- Default clause (very strict):
Miss any instalment → order recalled + forfeiture of amounts already paid. - Decree issuance:
The decree is to be drawn after proof of payment is filed before the Registry.
The timeline at a glance
- 15 Feb 2009: Marriage; couple later relocates to the USA.
- 7 Apr 2010: Son is born.
- 26 Sep 2012: Husband files for divorce under HMA §13(1)(ia)/(ib) (cruelty & adultery).
- 17 Oct 2016: Family Court grants divorce on cruelty; adultery not proved.
- 11 Jan 2017: Wife files appeal in the Madras High Court; notice issued 14 Feb 2017.
- 5 Mar 2017: Husband remarries while appeal is pending.
- 24 Aug 2018: High Court sets aside the divorce.
- 2025: Mediation fails; parties have lived apart since 2010.
- 14 Aug 2025: Supreme Court dissolves the marriage under Article 142 and orders ₹1.25 cr in 5 instalments with a strict default clause.
What is Article 142 and why did the Supreme Court use it?
Article 142 empowers the Supreme Court to pass orders necessary for “complete justice” in a case. In long-separated, no-reconciliation situations, the Court sometimes dissolves a “dead marriage” and structures a one-time settlement to end all litigation cleanly. That’s what happened here.
Considering divorce now? A note from me
If you’re separating today, the least toxic route is usually mutual consent divorce (HMA Section 13B). It’s faster, cheaper, and you control the terms (including any one-time settlement). Fight only when you must—settle smart when you can.
FAQs
Q. Does this judgment “reward adultery”?
A. No. The record shows adultery was not proved. The Supreme Court’s relief was about irretrievable breakdown and complete justice, not “rewarding” any misconduct.
Q. What happens if an instalment is missed?
A. Per the order, the entire order is recalled and amounts already paid are forfeited. It’s unusually strict—so compliance is critical.
Q. Can someone remarry while an appeal is pending?
A. Under Section 15, Hindu Marriage Act, no—not until the appeal period ends or the decree is confirmed. In this case, the husband remarried while the appeal was pending, which the timeline makes clear.
