SC To Study Plea For Uniform Divorce, Alimony Rules For All

SC to Study Plea for Uniform Divorce, Alimony Rules for All

Why in News?

• The Supreme Court agreed to examine a plea to frame uniform guidelines on divorce, maintenance and alimony for all religions.

Petitioner Argument

• The petitioner argued that divorce, maintenance and alimony laws in certain religions discriminated and marginalised women.
• These anomalies, varying from one religion to another, were violative of the right to equality (Article 14 of the Constitution) and right against discrimination (Article 15) on the basis of religion and gender and right to dignity, wants the laws on divorce, maintenance and alimony to be “gender-neutral and religion-neutral.
• Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains are governed by the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 and the Hindu Adoption & Maintenance Act 1956.
• Muslims are dealt as per status of valid marriage and prenuptial agreement and governed under the Muslim Women Act 1986.
• Christians are governed under the Indian Divorce Act 1869 and Parsis under the Parsi Marriage & Divorce Act 1936, but none of these laws are gender neutral.