Report No. 59

11A. Amendment of section 27.-

In section 27 of the Special Marriage Act,-

(a) in sub-section (1), the words "and by the wife on the ground that her husband has, since the solemnisation of the marriage, been guilty of rape, sodomy or bestiality" shall be omitted;

(b) after sub-section (2), the following sub section shall be inserted, namely:-

"(3) A wife may also present a petition for divorce to the district court on the ground-

(i) that the husband has, since the solemnisation of the marriage, been guilty of rape, sodomy or bestiality; or

(ii) that an order has been passed against the husband by a magistrate awarding separate maintenance to the petitioner, and the parties have not had marital intercourse for three years or more since such order.".