Balancing equities and eliminating financial claims upon marriage dissolution

In granting a decree of divorce under Article 142 based on irretrievable breakdown where the wife makes no claim for permanent alimony and is independently self-sufficient, the court balances economic equities equitably. Consideration of the educational qualifications, professional capacities, and financial independence of both spouses is crucial when terminating a long-separated marital relationship. Ensuring that all previous maintenance claims, execution petitions, and financial disputes stand fully settled provides a clean break for both individuals. Eliminating lingering financial demands prevents future execution litigation and enables both parties to rebuild their respective lives independently. The absence of dependent children further simplifies the dissolution process, ensuring that no third party suffers collateral damage from the ending of the formal legal tie. A balanced economic settlement combined with the termination of all ancillary claims fulfills the requirement of doing complete justice between the parties. (Neha Lal v. Abhishek Kumar | 2026 INSC 73)