The Supreme Court has directed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his estranged wife Payal Abdullah to sit together and make an effort to resolve their matrimonial disputes.
The top court was hearing a plea filed by the National Conference leader for divorce.
A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and K Vinod Chandran was informed that the mediation process in their case had failed.
"Although the mediation in this case has failed, but purely in order to give another chance, the parties shall sit together and make an effort to resolve their disputes.
Let the efforts be made within three weeks," the bench said in an order passed on April 15.
The top court, which posted the hearing on May 7, previously sought a response from Payal on her husband's plea.
It may be recalled the Delhi High Court on December 12, 2023 dismissed Omar's plea for divorce, and said there was no merit in his appeal and upheld the 2016 family court order, which refused to grant a decree of divorce to Omar.
Omar Abdullah has appealed to the Supreme Court, challenging a Delhi High Court order dated December 12, 2023, which upheld a family court's decision denying him a divorce from his estranged wife.
Omar and Payal Abdullah got married in September 1994 but have been living apart for a significant period. The couple has two sons -- Zahir and Zamir.
Earlier, the High Court had also directed the National Conference leader to pay Rs 1.5 lakh per month as maintenance to his wife in addition to Rs 60,000 per month each to his two sons.
Omar announced his separation from Payal in 2011, ending their 17-year-long marriage.
Omar filed for divorce, claiming that he had suffered cruelty. However, the family court dismissed his allegations as vague and unsubstantiated. The High Court later reviewed the case and upheld the family court's ruling, finding no reason to overturn the decision.
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