The Delhi High Court dismissed Omar Abdullah’s appeal seeking a divorce from his estranged wife, Payal Abdullah, deeming the allegations of cruelty as unsubstantiated and vague. Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vikas Mahajan upheld the family court’s decision, finding no basis to grant the divorce.
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Abdullah’s plea, based on claims of cruelty endured, was rejected by the trial court on August 30, 2016. The court deemed his assertions regarding “cruelty” and “desertion” as unproven, hence dismissing his divorce request.
Earlier, the court had instructed Omar Abdullah to provide ₹1.5 lakh monthly as interim maintenance to Payal, and ₹60,000 monthly for their sons’ education. The court’s decision followed petitions from Payal and their sons against lower court orders that granted them ₹75,000 and ₹25,000 respectively as interim maintenance until the sons reached adulthood.
Abdullah contested his obligation, asserting that Payal misrepresented her financial status. However, the court emphasized the father’s duty in maintaining and supporting his children’s education, rejecting the idea that reaching adulthood should absolve him of these responsibilities.
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Regarding Payal’s request to increase maintenance for rent, the court noted her property’s availability for residence or rental, rejecting the request. The court urged the family court to promptly resolve the pending maintenance plea, preferably within a year, considering the prolonged legal proceedings’ impact on the family.
