The petitioners argued that a valid marriage occurred through the exchange of garlands (Varmala) and applying vermilion (Sindoor). However, the court observed that no legal provision acknowledged marriage by exchanging garlands.
Reviewing documents, Justice Gokhale noted the husband’s monthly earnings of Rs 1.3 lakh, his assets, and fairly modest living. In contrast, the wife, an MBA, struggles to secure a permanent job as she single-handedly cares for their 10-year-old son.
The girlfriend is not a relative of the husband. They highlighted that the only allegation against her was the extramarital affair, and her involvement did not constitute abetment or disclose any cognizable offense
