Jammu and Kashmir CM's Long-Running Divorce Finalized by India's Highest Court

After almost a decade of legal battles, the divorce of Jammu and Kashmir’s chief minister, Umar Abdullah, has finally been cleared by the Supreme Court. The case, initially dismissed by the Family Court in August 2016 and later rejected by the Delhi High Court, found its way to the apex court following a renewed push for mediation in August 2024. The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices P.S. Narsimha and Alok Aradhye, reviewed the joint application submitted by Abdullah’s counsel Kapil Sibbald, confirming that the parties have come to a mutually acceptable settlement. The court’s approval marks the end of a protracted dispute that began shortly after the couple’s separation, despite their marriage dating back to September 1994.