6-Step Guide to Resolving the Issue of Conjugal Rights Restitution

In this blog post, you will learn about the steps in resolving the issue of conjugal rights restitution in a simple manner.

Overview:

The two key phrases “Restitution” and “Conjugal Right” make up the phrase “Restitution of Conjugal Rights”. This blog talks about conjugal rights restitution and the basic difference between restitution of conjugal rights

RESTITUTION: The recovery of something lost 

CONJUGAL RIGHTS: Rights pertaining to marriage or the bond between husband and wife are referred to as conjugal rights.

The aggrieved party in a marriage has the right to ask for recovery of conjugal rights if the other party withdraws from their social circle without a valid reason. If there is no legal obstacle to the decree, the court will give the relief.

the criteria provided legally in Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955. By allowing the court to intervene and order the withdrawing party to join the other, restitution by court order is intended to preserve the marriage tie as much as feasible. The prerequisites for obtaining such a decree are as follows:

• The other spouse has left the petitioner’s social circle.
• There is no justifiable explanation for this departure. The respondent bears the burden of proof if they claim a valid justification.
• The court was pleased regarding the veracity of the claims made in the petition.
• There is no legitimate reason to reject the decree.

When one of the partners ends a relationship without a good reason with the purpose of abandoning the other permanently or forever, that is considered withdrawing from society. So, even if a husband and wife occasionally live apart but continue to have frequent and consistent social and marital interactions, there would be no social withdrawal in this scenario. So, suppose either spouse withdraws from the other’s social circle after the marriage is solemnised without a valid reason. In that case, the party who was wronged has the legal right to apply to the matrimonial court for the conjugal rights restitution.

Particular Provisions

The remedy is accessible under the provisions of the numerous personal laws dealing with the conjugal rights restitution.

• Hindu Marriage Act of 1955, Section 9.
• The Indian Divorce Act of 1869, Section 32 or 33
• The Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act of 1969, Section 36
• In case of an intercaste marriage, see Section 22 of the Special Marriage Act of 1954.
• The parties are not required to cohabit after receiving the decree of conjugal rights restitution; instead, either party may apply for the decree under the terms as mentioned above.

The Provision’s Use In Different Communities-

One of the legal reliefs offered to spouses in distress in the institution of marriage is the restoration of conjugal rights. Only in the case of legal marriages could a decree of restitution of conjugal rights be obtained. In addition to marriage law legislation, Indian courts have ruled for the conjugal rights restitution for all communities.

Hindu

The restoration of conjugal rights is provided for under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955. The party who has been wronged may petition the District Court for the restoration of their conjugal rights. One of the significant effects of Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 is that it gives an aggrieved party the ability to request support under Section 25 of the same law. The following legal justifications exist for denying relief:

• For instance, any justification the respondent could have used to request a divorce, judicial separation, or order of nullity of marriage;
• a justifiable justification for the petitioner’s withdrawal from their social group;
• any actions were taken by the petitioner that could be construed as using their own wrongdoing or any incapacity to obtain such remedy;
• Incorrect or unnecessary delay in starting the case.

Christian

A Christian husband and wife may also make a request for a court order restoring marital rights. For the following grounds, the Court cannot issue the decree:

• Brutality against a spouse;
• If one partner is mentally ill;
• If one of the spouses gets remarried.

Conjugal Rights: Suggestions

The court may be permitted to create a committee for reconciliation after developing a new procedure addressing the right of restitution of marital rights.

Allow some illustrious members of the community to perform the duties rather than the judge who is a member of the committee.

The committee will be semi-independent to the extent that the Court will nominate and oversee it.

A professional, such as a counsellor or psychiatrist, must be in charge of this committee.

The process should be flexible, as it is called counselling.

What Paperwork Is Necessary for the Conjugal Rights Restitution

1. Provide the petitioner’s proof.
2. The petitioner’s identity must be proven.

iii. Marriage documentation

1. The petitioner’s portrait
2. Any document establishing the court’s jurisdiction.

Restrictions on the Clause Restoring Conjugal Rights Restitution

In fact, the harmed party must wait another year before pursuing alternative matrimonial remedies, even in the event that a ruling for the restoration of conjugal rights is rejected. A petition for restitution of conjugal rights cannot be submitted with a divorce petition. These pleas are believed to be incompatible with one another, thus they must be answered following the denial or failure of the prior one.

The Parties’ Remedies Options Under the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955

Restitution of conjugal rights, judicial separation, and divorce are the three matrimonial remedies available to partners in a marriage. The Indian judicial system is adamant that the “irretrievable collapse of marriage” is the only basis for divorce. The parties always have the option of conciliation even if the petition is brought before the court.

Rights to Make Maintenance Claims

The wife has the right to request maintenance under Section 25 of the Hindu Marriage Act, which is applicable to the judicial separation clause. If the husband doesn’t fulfil this duty, the court may seek to seize the husband’s assets.

Restitution of Conjugal Rights is Provided

A Supreme Court bench requested the Attorney General’s response in January 2020 in response to a request to invalidate the restitution of conjugal rights clause. There is a chance that the provision will be invalidated because the petition has been submitted and a reference has been requested. The Apex Court will still need to consider the matter further, though. If the disputed provision is overturned, it will undoubtedly represent a significant development in the history of personal legislation.

Benefits of Section 9 Will Be Only Fulfilled in the Following Circumstances

1. The parties’ marriage should be legal and meet the requirements of Section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955.
2. Without a good explanation, one of the spouses has withdrawn from the other spouse’s company.
3. The court must accept the petition’s specific statements’ veracity.

A Lawful Union

It must be a legitimate marriage defined by section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, to qualify for relief under section 9 of that law.

Conclusion

The Indian legal system has a history of having a very paternalistic outlook on women’s private lives. Furthermore, regulations have forced women to passively accept the complex patriarchal system they encounter in their daily interactions in the guise of upholding the morality and sanctity of social institutions like marriage. While some laws accomplish this directly, others adopt a deceptive strategy. Directing a wife to live with her husband unwittingly amounts to legalising rape in a nation where marital rape is regarded as an “exception” to rape and is, therefore, not prosecuted by a court of law. If this primitive medicine turned out to be effective, 

If this primitive cure were to have any use in a culture other than the caveman’s, it would be a serious worry. Although this clause might seem “harmless” in theory, it has the potential to result in the most heinous kind of physical and mental suffering. If delivered in the wrong setting and with a slightly off-target diagnosis, Section 9 of the HMA can end up being the most lethal of all drugs. It is now time for India to follow the Western legal systems and do away with this harsh and patriarchal “remedy” once and for all. Vakilsearch can help you resolve your issues regarding this.

Helpful Links:

• Who Can File Restitution Of Conjugal Rights?
• Procedure to Claim Conjugal Rights Restitution
• What is the Criteria or Condition for the Issue of RCR?