New Delhi: On Monday, the Supreme Court's constitution bench ruled that a marriage can be dissolved in case of irretrievable breakdown without the need for a waiting period as required under marital laws. Headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, the five-judge bench stated that the court has the authority to dissolve a marriage on the ground of irretrievable breakdown without violating public policy principles. The bench also held that the waiting period of six months can be dispensed with, subject to specific conditions as mentioned in two of the court's judgments. The court may invoke its special power under Article 142 of the constitution to grant divorce in such cases to ensure complete justice, while adhering to the fundamentals of public policy. The detailed judgment regarding this matter will be made available later in the day. The ruling was made in response to a batch of petitions regarding the use of the court's plenary powers to dissolve a marriage between
