The Indian Divorce Act, 1869
17. Confirmation of decree for dissolution by District Judge. –
Every decree for dissolution of a marriage made by a District Judge shall be subject to confirmation by the High Court.
Cases for confirmation of a decree for dissolution of marriage shall be heard (where the number of the Judges of the High Court is three or upwards) by a Court composed of three such Judges, and in case of difference, the opinion of the majority shall prevail, or (where the number of the Judges of the High Court is two) by a Court composed of such two Judges, and in case of difference, the opinion of the Senior Judges shall prevail.
The High Court, if it think further enquiry or additional evidence to be necessary, may direct such enquiry to be made, or such evidence to be taken.
The result of such enquiry and the additional evidence shall be certified to the High Court by the district Judge, and the High Court shall thereupon make an order confirming the decree for dissolution of marriage, or such other order as to the Court seems fit:
Provided that no decree shall be confirmed under this section till after the expiration of such time, not less than six months from the pronouncing thereof, as the High Court by general of special order from time to time directs.
During the progress of the suit in the Court of the District Judge, any person suspecting that any parties to the suit are or have been acting collusion for the purposes of obtaining a divorce, shall be at liberty, in such manner as the High Court by general or special order from time to tome directs, to apply to the High Court to remove the suit under section 8, and the High Court shall thereupon, if it thinks fit, remove such suit and try and determine the same as a Court of original jurisdiction, and the provisions contained in section 16 shall apply to every suit so removed: or it may direct the District Judge to take such steps in respect of the alleged collusion as may be necessary, to enable him to make a decree in accordance with the justice of the case.
