Divorce Laws: A Critical Analysis with Special Reference to Strengthened Protections for Men

INTRODUCTION Divorce legislation is the statutory basis for the breakdown of marriage and the apportionment of roles and property between husbands and wives. In the last century, such legislation has undergone extensive change to accommodate shifting social values, gender roles, and perceptions of family life. Although numerous reforms have sought to ensure fairness and equality, an increasing volume of research and advocacy points to men, and especially fathers, systematically falling behind in the actual application of the law. This paper provides a critical review of divorce legislations, with particular focus on dividing property, child custody, and spousal maintenance. It traces the historical and social grounds for these legislations and recommends changes that would serve to enhance men's protection. The aim is neither to give more importance to one gender nor to deprive them of their rights but to achieve legal fairness for everyone involved.