Break-Up: Divorce cases show alarming rise in Kashmir
Srinagar courts see 3–5 cases a day, Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam says divorces, disputes at ‘all-time high’
Srinagar: Divorce cases in Kashmir are rising fast, with family courts reporting numbers never seen before. In Srinagar, judges now handle three to five divorce petitions every day, showing how common marital breakups have become in the Valley.
Confirming the worrying trend, Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam said the situation has reached a critical point.
“Divorces, marital feuds and domestic violence are at an all-time high in Kashmir,” he said. The Grand Mufti added that his office now issues nearly 100 divorce decrees every one to two months, a sharp jump from the small number handled earlier. He urged families to treat newly married women with respect, saying, “Most problems start when the bride is not treated like a daughter in her new home.”
Lawyers say divorce cases have gone up by nearly 300 percent in the last two decades, especially in urban areas like Srinagar and Budgam. More than 60 percent of the petitions are being filed by women, many of them young and aware of their rights.
Officials point to several reasons behind the rise. Misuse of social media often leads to mistrust and fights between couples. Drug abuse among youth is causing more domestic problems. Traditional issues such as interference from in-laws, domestic violence, and financial stress remain common. In some cases, infertility is also becoming a reason for separation.
Experts say the Valley does not have enough counselling or support services for couples, which makes it harder to save troubled marriages. They believe premarital counselling; family support and awareness programmes can help reduce the growing number of divorces.
For now, the rising case numbers show a changing Kashmir, where marriages are facing more pressure than ever before.
