In a detailed judgment delivered on October 14, 2025, the Patna High Court dissolved the 15-year-old marriage between Alok Kumar, a Merchant Navy officer, and his estranged wife Anupama Singh, citing the relationship's "irretrievable breakdown." The division bench of Chief Justice P. B. Bajanthri and Justice S. B. P. D. Singh also directed Kumar to pay ₹90 lakh as permanent alimony within six months.
Background
The couple had married on December 2, 2010, in Muzaffarpur as per Hindu rites. However, their union quickly deteriorated - within two months, Anupama moved out of her matrimonial home.
Alok Kumar, claiming mental cruelty and desertion, approached the Family Court in 2013, seeking divorce under Section 13(1)(i-a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. He alleged that Anupama refused to live with him, threatened suicide if forced to return, and left the house with all her belongings.
His wife countered the allegations, accusing her in-laws of dowry harassment and abuse. She said her father, a government employee, had even sold a flat in Ghaziabad to meet repeated demands from Alok’s family. According to her, I was forced out in December 2011, and my husband never stood by me.
When the Family Court dismissed Alok's plea in 2018, he appealed to the High Court.
Court's Observations
During the appeal, both parties admitted to having lived separately for over a decade. The Court noted several failed mediation attempts - first at the Family Court, later before the High Court’s own mediation centre.
Justice Singh, writing the CAV judgment, remarked that the marriage had
"irretrievably broken down," and that "forcing either of them to continue would amount to misuse of law."
The bench took into account the income disparity: Alok, now a ship captain, earns between ₹5–6 lakh per month, while Anupama, dependent on her elderly parents, has no income source.
Interestingly, Alok initially offered ₹50 lakh as a one-time settlement, which Anupama rejected, demanding ₹90 lakh and a residential accommodation.
The bench cited the Supreme Court's guidelines in Rajnesh v. Neha (2021) and Pravin Kumar Jain v. Anju Jain (2024) on determining alimony - including factors like the social status of parties, reasonable needs of the wife, and duration of the marriage.
Quoting the apex court, the bench reiterated,
"The quantum of maintenance is subjective to each case and must ensure that the wife lives with dignity and comfort, not in penury."
Decision
Ultimately, the High Court allowed Alok Kumar's appeal, setting aside the Family Court’s 2018 judgment and dissolving the marriage by a decree of divorce.
"The marriage solemnized on 02.12.2010 between the appellant and the respondent stands dissolved by decree of divorce," the order declared.
On the question of alimony, the Court concluded:
"It is the duty of the Court to ensure the wife lives with dignity and comfort. The living need not be luxurious but she should not be left in discomfort."
Accordingly, the bench ordered Alok Kumar to pay ₹90 lakh as permanent alimony within six months, failing which the amount will attract 6% simple interest per annum.
All pending interlocutory applications were disposed of, bringing the seven-year appeal (M.A. No. 996 of 2018) to a close.
Case Title: Alok Kumar vs. Smt. Anupama Singh
Case Type & Number: Miscellaneous Appeal No. 996 of 2018
Date of Judgment: October 14, 2025
Advocates Appearing:
- For the Appellant:
- Mr. Sriram Krishna, Advocate
- Mr. Prabhat Kumar Singh, Advocate
- For the Respondent:
- Mr. Vivek Prasad, Advocate
- Ms. Y. Madhavi, Advocate