Panel backs six-month waiting period before divorce

Considering the existing provision of law for divorce by mutual consent reasonable,the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice looking into the Marriage Laws amendment Bill has suggested that the waiting period of six months after the presentation of a petition for grant of divorce should not be abolished. As per the panel,since this period provides the parties time to change their mind,it is of the view that the prevailing cooling off period be retained so as to protect and preserve the institution of marriage, Jayanthi Natarajan,the committee chairperson said today.

The committee,however,favoured the introduction of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a new ground for divorce.

Suggesting that if a marriage has ceased to subsist,the panel said it would be in the interest of all if the marriage is dissolved. With the apprehensions of the likely misuse of the proposed new ground,the panel has recommended that the government should define the term irretrievable breakdown of marriage in the Bill so that uniform standards are followed by courts.