Exemption of perjury and fraud proceedings from blanket dispute closures

While exercising equitable powers to dissolve a marriage and close pending matrimonial litigations, courts must explicitly carve out exceptions for proceedings involving allegations of perjury and fabrication of evidence. No litigant can be permitted to pollute the stream of justice or manipulate judicial records with impunity in order to gain an unfair advantage in legal battles. Applications filed under statutory provisions such as Section 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure or Section 379 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita concerning deliberate falsehoods on oath require independent adjudication on merits. Closing all matrimonial cases cannot extend to condoning deliberate attempts to mislead courts through fabricated documents or false affidavits. Preserving perjury inquiries ensures that the integrity of the judicial process is maintained and serves as a vital deterrent against dishonest litigation practices. Courts are duty-bound to ensure that accountability for abusing the legal process is firmly enforced regardless of the final outcome of the primary matrimonial dispute. (Neha Lal v. Abhishek Kumar | 2026 INSC 73)