Summary and Analysis of Shivangi Bansal vs. Sahib Bansal

1. Heading of the Judgment
Shivangi Bansal vs. Sahib Bansal
Supreme Court of India | Transfer Petition (C) No. 2367 of 2023 | Decided on 22.07.2025
Justices: B.R. Gavai & Augustine George Masih

2. Relevant Laws and Sections
The judgment references:

• Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (Section 13(1) for divorce).

• Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) (Section 125 for maintenance, Section 406 IPC for criminal breach of trust).

• Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (Section 12).

• Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 (Sections 7 & 25 for child custody).

• Indian Penal Code (IPC) (Sections 498A, 323, 406, etc.).

• Constitution of India (Article 142 for dissolution of marriage to ensure "complete justice").

• Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

3. Basic Judgment Details

• Parties:
  Petitioner: Shivangi Bansal (Wife, IPS officer).
  Respondent: Sahib Bansal (Husband, businessman).

• Core Dispute: Mutual transfer petitions to relocate multiple criminal/family cases between Delhi (Rohini) and Hapur (UP), alongside related SLPs.

• Settlement: Both parties agreed to amicably resolve all disputes, including child custody, property claims, and withdrawal of all pending cases.

• Outcome: Marriage dissolved; all litigations quashed; strict terms imposed to prevent future disputes.

4. Explanation of the Judgment

Background

• Married in 2015; separated in 2018 with an 8-year-old daughter, Raina.

• Over 25+ cases filed by both parties and their families across Delhi (Rohini) and UP (Hapur), including:
  Criminal cases (IPC 498A, 406, domestic violence).
  Divorce petitions (HMA).
  Property disputes and defamation suits.

Key Settlement Terms

A. Child Custody & Visitation

• Custody: Daughter Raina to remain with mother (Shivangi).

• Visitation Rights:
  Father (Sahib) and his family get supervised visits for the first 3 months.
  Thereafter, monthly visits on the first Sunday (9 AM–5 PM) at the child’s school.
  Half of all vacations to be spent with the father’s family.

• Mediators: Appointed to resolve visitation issues (Mr. Sudarshan Rajan for wife; Mr. Sanjeet Trivedi for husband).

B. Financial Settlement

• Wife’s Claims: Shivangi waived all claims to:
  Alimony/maintenance from Sahib.
  Movable/immovable property of Sahib or his family (present or future).

• Child Maintenance:
  Allahabad High Court’s order of ₹1.5 lakh/month quashed.
  Wife to bear all expenses of the daughter.

C. Withdrawal of All Cases

• All pending cases (criminal/civil) between parties and their families (listed in Paras 4A, 4B, 4C(i)–(iii) of the judgment) quashed/withdrawn.

• Includes FIRs, DV cases, defamation suits, and property disputes.

• Future Litigation Barred: No new cases can be filed by either party or their families.

D. Property Transfer

• Shivangi’s mother (Sandhya Goel) to transfer land in Aligarh (0.9756 hectares) to Sahib via gift deed.

• Conditions:
  Sahib bears all transfer costs and ongoing litigation expenses.
  Original sale deeds lost; Sandhya to file police complaint within 7 days.

E. Public Apology

• Shivangi and her parents to publish an unconditional apology:
  In one English + one Hindi national newspaper.
  On social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube).

• Content: Regret for causing mental trauma to Sahib’s family (specifically naming Mukesh, Manju, Sahib, Chirag Bansal, and Shipra Jain).

• Non-Admission: Apology not an admission of guilt; cannot be used against Shivangi in future proceedings.

F. Other Directives

1. Police Protection: Granted to Sahib and his family.

2. Social Media Cleanup: All allegations/defamatory content by either party to be deleted from the web.

3. Non-Interference: Parties barred from meddling in each other’s personal/professional lives.

4. Expungement: Adverse remarks against Shivangi in Allahabad HC’s 2022 order removed from records.

Final Orders

• Divorce: Marriage dissolved under Article 142 of the Constitution.

• Contempt Warning: Breach of any term may lead to contempt proceedings.

• Pending Petitions: All transfer petitions and SLPs disposed of as per settlement.

Significance

The judgment uses the Supreme Court’s extraordinary power (Article 142) to:

1. End a protracted legal battle spanning 7+ years.

2. Prioritize the child’s welfare through structured custody.

3. Ensure finality by barring future litigation.

4. Impose unique remedies (e.g., mandated public apology) for emotional restitution.

Key Takeaway: This judgment serves as a blueprint for settling high-conflict matrimonial disputes through mutual concessions, judicial oversight, and innovative remedies to ensure lasting peace.