Up until now, a divorce would in most cases be granted by the courts only if there were mutual consent. Now, the Indian government has proposed a new law, which will make it easier for couples to get divorced.

The Indian government has proposed a new law which will make it easier for couples to get divorced.

It has ordered that the country’s Hindu marriage act should be altered to allow irretrievable breakdown of marriage as grounds for divorce.

Up until now, a divorce would in most cases be granted by the courts only if there were mutual consent.

Correspondents say that marriage breakdowns are becoming more common and India’s divorce rate is increasing.

Minister of information Ambika Soni said that the proposed change in the law would help an estranged partner get a divorce “if any party does not come to court or wilfully avoids the court”.

Last year the Supreme Court said the judiciary should strive to keep married people together, but it also ruled that couples who had completely split should not be denied a divorce.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/10284416.stm