The Book titled as “ Marriage and Divorce problems” under law for layman series had catered the need of the layman by knowing the root causes of matrimonial discords & the ways out of their resolutions by counseling etc. The Book covers all the personaland family laws of all religions namely Hindus, Muslims , Parses etc. The book is in question-answer form & is mainly aimed at apprising the audience on the common problems among various communities in their family & matrimonial relations . The suggestions for separations, divorce etc. have been made only when all conciliatory efforts for amicable settlement of the dispute fails. The resort to the Courts for seeking matrimonial relief is only in the last .Firstly the efforts are made to reconcile the dispute through Gram Panchayats ( Village forum) in case of villagers, family friends , relatives & mediators in case of villagers as well as for others. With the breakup of the Joint families & the inclination of the society towards nuclear one, is the root cause of all matrimonial troubles. The families have become smaller and smaller in modern day societies with little or no control of the elderly members in the original family of the spouses.
While settling the issues of matrimony, it is not only living separate of the spouses which is material but other equally important issues are relating to maintenance of the spouses and their children, custody of the children & future prospects of leading a harmonious life assume equal importance. Divorced or separated persons are not debarred from remarrying either with each other or with other partners. Entering and ending the matrimony has been facilitated by the Computers. Internet access to the prospective marrying couples as well for separating couples has eased to some extent the matrimonial problems. Now through matrimonial forums , the prospective marrying couples have a wide range to choose from.
Of late, Judicial recognition of Live-in-relationship bythe Courts have added fuel to the fire. Live-in-relationships are judicially placed short of marriages while retaining all other rights namely maintenance of the spouse as well as of the child, custody related problems & succession & inheritance rights etc. Devolution of the properties in the families of the spouses have not allowed to be affected by Live-in-relationships. Such relationships have been given judicial recognition keeping in view the social trend . Friend making has been borrowed from the Western countries even in Countries like India where social norms used to be different from the West. What used to be immoral has been given judicial recognition. Now the partners have been permitted to live together & then get separated if they wish without any legal wrangles & complications. By Live-in-relationships , the courts have stamped “ easy to walk-in & easy to walk –out” of the matrimony.
Some of the important legislations covering the matrimonial matters are : Hindu Marriage Act, Muslim Personal Law, Parsi Marriage Act, Special Marriage Act ( for inter-caste & inter-religious marriages) . For Hindus legal marriages can be performed traditionally, through Courts, Arya Samaj Marriages through legally recognized Arya Samaj Temples etc. Muslims recognize marriage performed before Kazi. For Christians, marriages can be performed in Churches . One can adopt any of the forms of marriages. Legislations are adequate to safeguard the rights and liabilities whether for marriages or for Live-in- relationships.