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Indian Court Strikes Down Longer Divorce Waiting Period for Christians

By Howard M. Friedman

In India last week, Kerala's High Court struck down as unconstitutional a provision that requires Christians to wait at least two years after they are first married to file for divorce. The personal law that governs other religious communities, as well as the Special Marriage Act that governs those with no religion, all allow others to file for divorce after one year. According to today's CathNews Asia, the court held that the clause in the Indian Divorce Act applicable only to Christians is discriminatory and violates the constitutional protection of equality before the law. Praveen and Soumya Thomas filed for divorce eight months after they were married. The court suggested that the legislature could impose a one-year waiting period for Christians, the same as imposed on other religious groups.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 01, 2010 (boomark / email).