24/05/2026
"MARRIAGE, IN ITS TRUEST FORM, MUST BE A SANCTUARY, A SPACE OF MUTUAL LOVE, RESPECT, CARE, AND EMOTIONAL SAFETY"
The Supreme Court (SC), speaking through Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh, stressed that while marriage remains the foundation of the family and an inviolable social institution that the State is duty-bound to protect, courts cannot ignore the realities faced by individuals trapped in unions with psychologically incapacitated spouses.
This came after the SC Third Division declared a marriage null and void on the ground of the husband's psychological incapacity, citing his abusive and possessive behavior toward his wife, coupled with his lack of direction and ambition in life.
The highest bench underscored that marriage, in its truest form, must serve as a sanctuary marked by mutual respect, care, and emotional safety. It emphasized that marriage should never become a chain that binds a person to a relationship that is fundamentally flawed and emotionally damaging.
While recognizing that the ideal is for individuals to choose wisely in love and commitment, the Court acknowledged that human beings are not infallible and can make mistakes in choosing their life partners.