New Delhi, July 31:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his estranged wife, Payal Abdullah, have mutually agreed to dissolve their marriage and have jointly approached the Supreme Court by filing an application under Article 142 of the Constitution, seeking a decree of divorce by mutual consent.
The development was placed before the Supreme Court during the hearing of the matter on Friday. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Omar Abdullah, informed the Court that both parties had amicably resolved their matrimonial dispute and had jointly filed an application requesting the apex court to exercise its extraordinary powers under Article 142 to grant a decree of divorce by mutual consent. (Sci API)
Article 142 empowers the Supreme Court to pass such orders as may be necessary to ensure “complete justice” in any matter pending before it. The provision has been invoked by the apex court in exceptional matrimonial cases to bring long-pending disputes to a conclusive end. (Sci API)
The application comes after years of separation between the couple and signals an amicable resolution of their marital dispute. The Supreme Court is expected to consider the joint plea in accordance with law.
Omar Abdullah, a senior leader of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and the current Chief Minister of the Union Territory, married Payal Abdullah in 1994. The couple has been living separately for several years.
Further proceedings in the matter are awaited.(KNC)