The Supreme Court held that a foreign divorce decree granted on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage is not automatically valid or enforceable in India unless the ground is recognised under Indian matrimonial law. The parties were married in India under Hindu rites but later moved to the United States, where a US court granted divorce. The Court ruled that marriages solemnised in India remain governed by the Hindu Marriage Act, and foreign judgments must satisfy Section 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure to be recognised. Since irretrievable breakdown is not a statutory ground under the Hindu Marriage Act and the husband had not meaningfully submitted to the foreign court’s jurisdiction, the decree was held unenforceable in India. The Court also emphasised that compliance with natural justice and effective participation are essential for recognising foreign judgments. However, considering long separation and complete breakdown of marital ties, the Supreme Court exercised its extraordinary powers under Article 142 to grant divorce and finally settle the dispute.