Special Marriage Act, 1954
23. Judicial separation
(1) A petition for
judicial separation may be presented to the district court either by the
husband or the wife,-
(a) on any of the grounds specified 17[in
sub-section (1) 18[and sub-section (1A) of section 27] on which a
petition for divorce might have been presented; or
(b) on the ground of failure to comply with a
decree for restitution of conjugal rights;
and the court, on being satisfied of he truth
of the statement made in such petition, and that there is no legal ground why
the application should not be granted, may decree judicial separation
accordingly.
(2) Where the court
grants a decree for judicial separation, it shall be no longer obligatory for
the petitioner to cohabit with the respondent, but the court may, on the
application by petition of either party and on being satisfied of the truth of
the statements made in such petition, rescind the decree if it considers it
just and reasonable to do so.