#customary divorce

Kerala High Court rules that a customary divorce deed executed during the parents' lifetime qualifies a divorced daughter for family pension under Section 29(2) of the Hindu Marriage Act. The judgment clarifies that customary divorces, even if informal, are legally valid for determining pension benefits, impacting service law and family pension claims across Hindu communities.

J&K High Court rules that a wife living separately by mutual consent, even without a legal divorce, cannot claim maintenance under Section 488 CrPC. The court emphasized judicial admissions and conduct over technical marital status, while ordering a ₹2.5 lakh one-time settlement to prevent destitution, highlighting the balance between legal technicalities and equitable relief.