Kerala sees nearly 87% rise in divorce petitions in six years

Kochi: Family court data in the state show a marked shift in attitudes towards marriage, with divorce petitions rising by nearly 87% over the past six years. This increase reflects changing social norms, growing financial independence and a greater willingness among couples to leave unhappy relationships. Recurring incidents of deaths linked to domestic discord further highlight the social significance of this shift.According to data obtained via RTI, divorce petitions filed in the state rose steadily from 18,886 in 2020 to 25,020 in 2021 and 30,781 in 2022, before climbing to 33,535 in 2023. Though the figure dipped slightly to 30,647 in 2024, it surged to 35,238 in 2025.As many as 1,74,107 divorce petitions were filed between 2020 and 2025, averaging about 2,418 petitions a month. In 2025 alone, family courts received nearly 2,937 petitions every month. Not all petitions resulted in separation, as many disputes were settled through mediation and counselling.Between 2020 and 2025, Thiruvananthapuram recorded the highest monthly average of divorce petitions at 322, followed by Kollam (294), Ernakulam (289) and Thrissur (282), reflecting higher levels of urbanisation, education and socio-economic development. Wayanad consistently reported the fewest petitions, averaging just 41 a month during the six-year period. Kasaragod, Idukki and Malappuram also recorded comparatively low averages of 63, 86 and 111 petitions a month respectively.The data do not indicate whether husbands or wives initiate divorce proceedings more often, but legal experts point to a combination of factors behind the rising numbers. Lekha Suresh, a senior advocate in Kerala high court, said: “People nowadays are not concerned about the stigma associated with divorce. Besides, women do not want to endure abuse at the hands of their husbands or other family members. They prefer to walk away from toxic marital relationships, unlike in previous decades.”“Many point to the financial stability of women. However, if a married woman earns money but is forced to hand it over to her husband and seek his permission to spend it, that is not independence. Women today are increasingly conscious of their independence. Earlier, I often saw women needing the support of family members to file divorce petitions. Now, many come to court on their own and file petitions,” she said.The lawyer said the reasons varied among petitioners, while there were also women exploiting the process to extract large sums of money — sometimes crores of rupees. “Many couples prefer divorces by mutual consent to avoid lengthy legal proceedings and move on with their lives. Some spouses refuse mutual divorce out of vengeance towards their partner. In such cases, it is often the children who suffer the most. Many divorced couples remarry and, in some cases, end up divorcing again,” she said.A family court counsellor said domestic violence, narcotic substance abuse by husbands, extramarital affairs and “excessive” parental involvement in daughters’ marital lives have emerged as major contributors to divorce cases.“Unlike in the past, parents are increasingly coming forward to support their daughters in divorce cases. Even when we advise them to reconcile and resolve differences, many parents question why their daughters should be forced to continue in an unhappy relationship. Narcotic substance abuse by men often leads to abusive or sadistic behaviour, prompting many women to leave rather than endure violence or harassment. Besides, school and college reunions have increasingly become platforms for the rekindling of relationships or the beginning of extramarital affairs, which in turn contribute to marital breakdowns,” she said.Among individual family courts, Sasthamcotta digital family court recorded the lowest number of divorce petitions in 2025 (316), while Ernakulam family court recorded the highest, receiving 1,957 petitions during the year.