NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday granted a divorce to Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah after being informed that he and his estranged wife Payal Abdullah, had resolved their matrimonial dispute through mediation.The top court took note of submissions by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Omar, that both parties had reached a settlement and filed an application under Article 142 of the Constitution seeking dissolution of their marriage by mutual consent.“We will make it a part of our order and will dispose of it in terms of that,” a bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe said, adding that it would pass a formal order, PTI reported.“Both of them have embraced freedom. It’s all settled. (Article) 142 filed. Your lordships may grant divorce,” Sibal told the court.When the bench asked when the application had been filed, it was informed that it was submitted on July 22. “All other matters will be withdrawn. It is all set out (in the application),” Sibal added.The bench was hearing two petitions, including Omar Abdullah’s appeal seeking divorce on the ground of cruelty. In July 2024, the Supreme Court had sought a response from Payal Abdullah after Omar challenged the Delhi High Court’s refusal to grant him a divorce.The Delhi High Court, on December 12, 2023, upheld a 2016 family court order dismissing his divorce plea, holding that he had failed to prove allegations of cruelty or desertion against his wife.
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Before the family court, Omar Abdullah had argued that the marriage had irretrievably broken down, stating that the couple had not shared a conjugal relationship since 2007 and had been living separately since 2009. Married on September 1, 1994, he had also alleged that Payal’s conduct caused him mental pain and harassment.In a separate maintenance case, the Delhi High Court in August 2023 directed Omar Abdullah to pay Rs 1.5 lakh per month as interim maintenance to Payal Abdullah. He was also ordered to pay Rs 60,000 per month for the education of each of their two sons.The order came on petitions filed by Payal Abdullah and their sons challenging a 2018 lower court order that had granted her Rs 75,000 per month and Rs 25,000 per month for each son until they attained the age of majority.
