Indian Divorce Act, 1869
17. Confirmation of decree for dissolution by District
Judge
Every decree for dissolution of a marriage made by a District
Judge shall be subject to confirmation by the High Court.
Cases for confirmation of a decree for dissolution of marriage
shall be heard (where the number of the Judges of the High Court is three or
upwards) by a court composed of three such Judges, and in case of difference,
the opinion of the majority shall prevail, or (where the number of the Judges
of the High Court is two) by a court composed of such two Judges, and in case
of difference, the opinion of the Senior Judge shall prevail.
The High Court, if it thinks further enquiry or additional
evidence to be necessary, may direct such enquiry to be made, or such evidence
to be taken.
The result of such enquiry and the additional evidence shall be
certified to the High Court by the District Judge, and the High Court shall
thereupon make an order confirming the decree for dissolution of marriage, or
such other order as to the Court seems fit:
PROVIDED that no decree shall be confirmed under this
section till after expiration of such time, not less than six months from the
pronouncing there of, as the High Court by general or special order from time
to time directs.
During the progress of the suit in the court of the District
Judge, any person suspecting that any parties to the suit are or have been acting
in collusion for the purpose of obtaining a divorce, shall be at liberty in
such manner as the High Court by general or special order from time to time
directs, to apply to the High Court to remove the suit under section 8, and the
High Court shall thereupon, if it thinks fit, remove such suit and try and
determine the same as a court of original jurisdiction, and the provisions
contained in section 16 shall apply to every suit so removed: or it may direct
the District Judge to take such steps in respect of the alleged collusion as
may be necessary, to enable him to make a decree in accordance with the justice
of the case.