MOLLY JOSEPH vs GEORGE SEBASTIAN

The Supreme Court held that the marriage between the appellant and the respondent was declared a nullity based on the provisions of the Indian Divorce Act, 1869, specifically Section 19(4), which necessitates a decree from a Civil Court for annulment to be valid. The Court emphasized that an annulment granted by an Ecclesiastical Tribunal does not hold legal weight under the Divorce Act. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, affirming the High Court's decision that the earlier marriage was still subsisting at the time of the subsequent marriage.