Desertion is a recognized ground for divorce under Indian law, but it goes far beyond one spouse simply walking away. Courts require proof of both physical separation and an intention to permanently abandon marital life, without reasonable cause. Landmark judgments—from Bipinchandra to Savitri Pandey—have shaped this interpretation, highlighting that desertion is about the abandonment of obligations, not just absence.

Navigate the latest in Indian maintenance law with our updated guide. Discover how the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and 2025 reforms to the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA) impact filing for financial support. Learn about new divorce grounds like irretrievable breakdown, expanded cruelty definitions, mandatory financial disclosures, and the Supreme Court's directives on lifestyle-linked, periodically increasing alimony.

Because when marriages become battlefields, the law is no longer just a shield—it becomes the terrain.

Landmark Supreme Court judgments shaping Indian divorce law, addressing cruelty, maintenance, irretrievable breakdown, and justice.