New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to former Jammu & nd Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s estranged wife Payal.
The top court was hearing a petition filed by Omar after Delhi High Court denied him divorce from Payal.
Noting that the couple had been living separately for 15 years, a bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanudin Amanullah stated, “It’s a dead marriage.”
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for the National Conference leader, who had married Payal in 1994 and have two sons – Zahir and Zamir.
Omar, who met Payal while they were working at The Oberoi in Delhi, announced his separation from his wife in 2011 to end their 17-year-long marriage.
Omar had filed for divorce citing cruelty towards him. However, the family court held that the cruelty allegations were vague and unproven.
Last December, Delhi High Court dismissed Omar’s plea as it lacked merit. A bench of Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vikas Mahajan upheld the family court’s decision as it found no flaw in the 2016 ruling.
The High Court also directed Omar to pay Rs 1.5 lakh per month as maintenance to Payal and Rs 60,000 every month for his son’s education.
