Latest Judgement

1. ABSTRACT
   The Supreme Court of India declared that maintenance settlement in previous marriage/divorce cannot be taken into consideration for grant of maintenance in a later matrimonial/divorce proceedings. It was held that each marriage comes with different cause of action and reliefs.
2. INTRODUCTION
   The Supreme Court of India’s recent decision in Anurag Vijaykumar Goel v. State of Maharashtra clarifies a recurrent jurisprudential issue: whether financial relief granted in a former marital dissolution can be factored into alimony calculations in a subsequent marriage. The Court decisively answered in the negative, affirming that each matrimonial bond stands on its own, with duties and entitlements derived only from the particular marriage that has broken down.
3. FACTS AND JUDICIAL HOLDING
   In the case before the Court, the husband argued that the wife had already received substantial financial compensation in her first divorce, implying she was not entitled to additional support from the second marriage. The Supreme Court unanimously rejected this contention, emphasizing that maintenance obligations must be assessed in light of the financial dynamics within the particular marriage in question and cannot be diluted by settlement in a prior one.
   The bench, comprising Chief Justice B. R. Gavai and Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N. V. Anjaria, invoked its remedial power under Article 142 of the Constitution to dissolve the second marriage on grounds of irretrievable breakdown and awarded the wife an encumbrance-free flat in Mumbai worth ₹4 crore. In doing so, it expressly forbade the previous alimony award from influencing the judgment in the second instance.
4. LEGAL SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPLICATIONS
   This judgment reinforces a core principle of matrimonial jurisprudence: that alimony derives from the legal obligations peculiar to the specific marital relationship. Prior settlements—no matter how substantial—do not furnish a “buffer” or offset for future maintenance obligations arising from distinct marriages. The ruling thus ensures clarity and fairness in maintenance adjudications by directing courts to focus solely on the financial context of the marriage in dissolution, including need, earning capacity, and lifestyle, without discounting for unrelated prior settlements.
5. CONCLUSION
   The Supreme Court’s decision sets a clear precedent: alimony must be awarded based on the merits of each marriage, untainted by resolutions of past unions. This principal guards against the conflation of independent claims and promotes justice by ensuring each marital breakdown is fairly and freshly assessed.This article has been researched and written by Advocate Aarun Chanda, practicing divorce law in Mumbai and Pune. This article is intended solely for academic purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Readers are encouraged to consult a qualified lawyer/advocate specializing in divorce cases for professional legal guidance.

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