law: Special Marriage Act, 1954 
  23. Judicial separation
  (1) A petition for
  
  judicial separation may be presented to the district court either by the
  
  husband or the wife,-
  (a) on any of the grounds specified 17[in
  
  sub-section (1) 18[and sub-section (1A) of section 27] on which a
  
  petition for divorce might have been presented; or
  (b) on the ground of failure to comply with a
  
  decree for restitution of conjugal rights;
  and the court, on being satisfied of he truth
  
  of the statement made in such petition, and that there is no legal ground why
  
  the application should not be granted, may decree judicial separation
  
  accordingly.
  (2) Where the court
  
  grants a decree for judicial separation, it shall be no longer obligatory for
  
  the petitioner to cohabit with the respondent, but the court may, on the
  
  application by petition of either party and on being satisfied of the truth of
  
  the statements made in such petition, rescind the decree if it considers it
  
  just and reasonable to do so.