India, April 10 -- The Supreme Court, while hearing a divorce case involving a couple who had been living separately for 16 years, asked the husband to "be quiet and continue paying" the stipulated Rs.15,000 in maintenance to his wife.

At the heart of the matter was the legal dilemma of whether a long separation is enough to end a marriage, or if a chance at reconciliation still holds ground.

The husband's counsel told the court that the couple had been living apart for over a decade and a half, adding that his client was already paying Rs.15,000 every month as maintenance. On that basis, he requested that the marriage be dissolved, pointing to ongoing differences and incompatibility.

"Separated for 16 years, I am paying Rs.15,000 main...