India: Family Law

The Supreme Court of India has delivered a landmark judgment in Chaturbhuj Pradhan v. Amar Pradhan addressing the complex intersection of DNA testing in paternity disputes with fundamental rights to privacy, personal identity, and inheritance. This ruling establishes critical legal precedents on when courts can order genetic testing to determine biological parentage and how such orders balance individual autonomy against the rights of children and families.

The Delhi High Court, in Uma Bharti & Anr. v. The Government of NCT of Delhi & Ors. [W.P.(CRL) 2429/2026], directed local police to protect a live-in couple whose relationship was opposed by the woman’s father and brother. The order, passed by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Saurabh Banerjee on 13.08.2026, reaffirms that a consenting adult’s choice to reside with a partner of their choosing remains constitutionally protected, irrespective of familial or societal disapproval.

The Rajasthan High Court examines the controversial practice of Atta-Satta, a reciprocal marriage arrangement between families, and its profound implications for consent, child marriage, and women's dignity. This landmark case challenges whether deeply rooted social customs can override fundamental principles of individual consent and matrimonial rights.

In a significant ruling delivered on 22 May 2026, the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh, before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Namit Kumar, conclusively held that a sole surviving widow of a deceased government...

In a significant ruling delivered on May 29, 2026, the Supreme Court of India in Chaturbhuj Pradhan v. Amar Pradhan & Anr. (2026 INSC 600) dismissed an appeal challenging a direction to undergo DNA...

It is well known that legislation which changes substantive rights is to be prospective in application so as not to punish acts which were lawful when performed.

The intersection of digital communication and matrimonial law has increasingly demanded judicial attention in contemporary India. As smartphones become ubiquitous and instant messaging platforms...

The administration of justice in matrimonial matters demands not merely substantive fairness but also procedural precision, particularly in the identification and application of governing statutes.

The Bombay High Court in its decision in Raviprakash R. Sodhani and Anr. v. Ram Swaroop Sodhani and Ors. observed that a gift deed executed by a senior citizen can be declared void under Section 23 of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, ...