Indian Divorce Act, 1869
14. Power to court to pronounce decree for dissolving
marriage
In case the court is satisfied on the evidence that the case of
the petitioner has been proved, and does not find that the petitioner has been
in any manner accessory to, or conniving at, the going through of the said form
of marriage, or the adultery of the other party to the marriage, or has
condoned the adultery complained of,
or that the petition is presented or prosecuted in collusion
with either of the respondents,
the court shall pronounce a decree declaring such marriage to be
dissolved in the manner and subject to all the provisions and limitation in
sections 16 and 17 made and declared:
PROVIDED that the Court shall not be bound to pronounce
such decree if it finds that the petitioner has, during the marriage, been
guilty of adultery, or if the petitioner has, in the opinion of the court, been
guilty of unreasonable delay in presenting or prosecuting such petition,
or of cruelty towards the other party to the marriage,
or of having deserted or willfully separated himself or herself
from the other party before the adultery complained of, and without reasonable
excuse,
or of such willful neglect or misconduct of or towards the other
party as has conduced to the adultery.
Condonation - No adultery shall be deemed to have been
condoned within the meaning of this Act unless where conjugal cohabitation has
been resumed or continued.