The Supreme Court of India has officially dissolved a 23-year marriage after a woman withdrew her consent for divorce, despite having previously agreed to a final settlement. Justices Rajesh Bindal and Vijay Vishnoi condemned her actions, stating that such a reversal is unacceptable at this advanced stage of proceedings. The court emphasized that while parties in a mutual divorce can withdraw consent prior to a final order, this right is not absolute. Once a settlement is reached and accepted, backing out without valid grounds is impermissible. The woman's claims regarding her husband’s promise to return valuables worth ₹170 crore (approximately $20 million USD) were not part of the written agreement, which was allegedly done to avoid tax scrutiny. The court expressed serious concerns over the timing of her domestic violence complaint, noting it was the first such allegation in their two-decade marriage. Ultimately, the Supreme Court invoked its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to dissolve the marriage and dismissed the domestic violence case, aiming to bring finality to the matter.