Supreme Court Settles Divorce Case with Rs. 50 Lakh Alimony, Closes Maintenance Dispute

The Supreme Court of India has conclusively settled a long-standing matrimonial dispute between Jatinder Kumar Sapra and Anupama Sapra. The Court, while granting a divorce on the grounds of irretrievable breakdown of marriage, awarded Rs. 50,00,000/- (Rupees Fifty Lakhs only) as permanent alimony to the respondent-wife. Additionally, the Court ruled that all pending disputes, including maintenance proceedings, stand closed, ensuring finality in the matter.

Background of the Case

The appellant, Jatinder Kumar Sapra, filed for divorce on the grounds of irretrievable breakdown of marriage. The Family Court initially dismissed his plea, and the decision was later upheld by the High Court. Seeking relief, the appellant approached the Supreme Court.

On May 6, 2024, the Supreme Court granted the divorce and directed the appellant to pay Rs. 50 lakh as permanent alimony to his wife, Anupama Sapra. The amount was to be paid in five installments, which the appellant complied with. However, a separate maintenance case, Maintenance Case No. 408 of 2017, was still pending before the Family Court, Dwarka. The appellant filed a Miscellaneous Application seeking clarification that the settlement amount included any pending maintenance dues and that the maintenance case should be closed.

Key Legal Issues

Whether the Rs. 50 lakh alimony includes past maintenance dues.
Whether the maintenance case pending before the Family Court should be closed.
Whether the Supreme Court’s judgment dated May 6, 2024, constituted a full and final settlement of all disputes.

Arguments by the Appellant

The appellant’s counsel argued:

The Rs. 50 lakh alimony was meant to cover all financial claims, including past maintenance dues.
The Supreme Court had already settled the dispute, and there should be no further financial obligations arising from maintenance proceedings.
Since both parties had accepted the judgment and the payment had been made, the Family Court should not entertain further maintenance claims.

“The decree of divorce and the alimony awarded were intended to settle all financial disputes between the parties, including past maintenance.”

Arguments by the Respondent

The respondent-wife, Anupama Sapra, countered:

The pending maintenance case should continue, as it was initiated before the Supreme Court’s ruling.
There was no explicit mention in the May 6, 2024, judgment that past maintenance dues were covered under the alimony.
Any arrears ordered by the Family Court should still be payable.

“The maintenance case before the Family Court should continue as the alimony granted did not specify inclusion of past dues.”

Supreme Court’s Observations

The Supreme Court thoroughly examined the arguments and ruled in favor of the appellant, clarifying that:

The Rs. 50 lakh permanent alimony was intended to be a full and final settlement, covering all claims, including maintenance.
The maintenance case pending before the Family Court, Dwarka, was now redundant and must be closed.
No further claims for arrears of maintenance shall be entertained, as the Supreme Court’s judgment conclusively adjudicated all financial matters between the parties.

“The permanent alimony of Rs. 50,00,000/- granted to the respondent constitutes the full and final settlement of all claims, including any maintenance obligations.”

Final Judgment

The Supreme Court ruled:

“The present Miscellaneous Application is dismissed as being devoid of merit. This Court, vide its judgment dated 06.05.2024, has conclusively adjudicated all disputes between the parties, including the issue of maintenance. Consequently, the maintenance case pending before the Family Court, Dwarka, stands closed, and any arrears arising from orders passed therein shall not be included in the permanent alimony granted by this Court.”

The Court further directed that no further claims related to maintenance shall be entertained in any court.

Impact of the Judgment

This ruling sets a crucial precedent:

Confirms that when the Supreme Court grants permanent alimony, it settles all pending financial disputes.
Prevents unnecessary litigation in family courts over maintenance claims once a Supreme Court settlement is reached.
Ensures that parties do not reopen settled disputes after accepting a lump sum settlement.
Provides clarity for future cases where maintenance and alimony are contested.

By quashing the pending maintenance case, the Supreme Court has reinforced the principle that a full and final financial settlement in divorce cases must be respected, ensuring legal clarity and preventing further litigation.

Petitioner Name: Jatinder Kumar Sapra.
Respondent Name: Anupama Sapra.
Judgment By: Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta.
Place Of Incident: Dwarka, New Delhi.
Judgment Date: 17-02-2025.

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