Supreme Court Asks Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah And Estranged Wife Payal Abdullah To Appear For Mediation

The Supreme Court today (August 30) has directed  former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Omar Abdullah and his estranged wife Payal Abdullah to go for mediation at the Supreme Court Mediation Centre. 

Omar had filed a divorce petition arguing that his marriage with Payal had irretrievably broken down.

Omar Abdullah and Payal Abdullah got married on September 01, 1994. They have been living separately since the year 2009. They have two sons.

Omar had approached the Family High Court also on the grounds of dissertation and cruelty. However, the Court on August 30, 2016 dismissed his plea for divorce because he could not prove that their marriage had suffered an irretrievable breakdown.

Omar challenged this before the Delhi High Court. In December 2023, a division bench of Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vikas Mahajan upheld the order of the Family Court. 

A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah directed that the parties may jointly appear for mediation at the Supreme Court Mediation Centre to bring a settlement between parties.  

At the outset, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal (for Omar Abdullah) said that the parties have been living separately for 15 years. 

On the last occasion, the court had issued notices on Omar Abdullah's petion and sought a response from Payal Abdullah. 

Today, Senior Advocate Shyam Divan (appearing for Payal Abdullah) told the court that mediation must be tried at least once.

Sibal interjected and stated that he may go for mediation but that is for to resolve and not to reconcile. 

He added that it would not be necessary given the Supreme Court judgment recognising the irretrievable breakdown of marriage. But nevertheless agreed to go for mediation.

Case Details: Omar Abdullah v. Payal Abdullah SLP(C) No. 7427/2024

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