Delhi HC Dismisses National Conference Leader Omar Abdullah’s Plea Seeking Divorce from Estranged Wife

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed Jammu & Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah’s plea seeking divorce from his estranged wife, saying there was no merit in his appeal.

A bench comprising Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vikas Mahajan upheld the trial court’s 2016 decision, asserting that there was no merit in Abdullah’s appeal for divorce.

The high court concurred with the trial court’s assessment that Abdullah’s allegations of cruelty were vague and unsubstantiated. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister had claimed that he had been subjected to cruelty by his estranged wife, Payal Abdullah.

The court emphasized that the appellant failed to provide evidence supporting any act, whether physical or mental, that could be deemed as an act of cruelty against him.

The trial court, on August 30, 2016, had already dismissed Abdullah’s initial plea for divorce. In its judgment, the trial court maintained that Abdullah could not substantiate his assertions of “cruelty” or “desertion,” which formed the grounds for his requested decree of divorce.