The Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 30, 2024) stayed the Delhi High Court's decision, which allowed famous chef Kunal Kapoor to divorce his wife on the ground of cruelty. Issuing notice to Kunal Kapoor on a petition filed by his wife, Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice SVN Bhatti have referred the matter to the Supreme Court's Mediation Center to explore the scope of settlement.

The High Court, while allowing Kunal Kapoor to divorce, had said that his woman's conduct was not dignified. The High Court, while accepting Kunal Kapoor's appeal challenging the family court's order denying divorce, had said that it is a well-established position of law that making negligent, insulting and baseless allegations against the spouse in public is tantamount to cruelty.

The High Court had said, 'The facts have revealed to us that the conduct of the respondent (wife) towards the appellant (husband) has been such that it is not dignified and sympathetic towards him.' He said, 'If one spouse has such a nature towards the other, then it disrespects the basic spirit of marriage and there is no possible reason why they should be forced to suffer long-term torture while living together.'

Kunal Kapoor was married in April 2008 and his wife gave birth to a son in 2012. Kunal Kapoor, who was a judge on the television show Master Chef, alleged in his petition that his wife never respected his parents and also insulted them. On the other hand, the woman claimed that he made false allegations to mislead the court and said that she always talked to her husband like a spouse and was loyal to him. She alleged that Kunal kept her in the dark and fabricated fake stories to get a divorce.