In Brief
A couple—after strained matrimonial relations—agreed to settlement terms through court-mediated dispute resolution to reunite and raise their child together in the USA. When the agreement broke down, the husband filed a contempt petition alleging the wife breached the settlement by refusing to join him. The Supreme Court set aside the contempt conviction, holding that cohabitation cannot be enforced through contempt proceedings without first examining whether each party fulfilled their reciprocal obligations. The Court revived the custody petition for the High Court to decide on merits, prioritizing the child's welfare over enforcement of broken settlement terms.
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