Ranchi, June 21: Love marriages are falling apart in the city — or at least this is what the figures would like you to believe.

With 86 divorce cases pending in the district family court this year, things are only going to be worse. According to the court officials, most of these cases are that of the “love marriage”.

While the number was 150 in 2001, it shot up to 180 in 2003. And with six more months left this year, the officials predicted it might well cross the 200-mark.

Officials working in the family court said divorce petitions were being filed with growing frequency and with serious and sometimes “false” allegations to secure separation. Officials added that the problem was more common among the young lovebirds. The most common allegation by the couples is generally on the grounds of sexual dissatisfaction and “cruelty”. A senior court officer said the couples who apply for divorce seldom want to reconcile.

The official added that the trend of working partners and establishing nuclear families has often led to clashes between couples.

Bishwaraj Bhaduri, advocate in the district court, said, “Most of the time, the partners work outside and do not have time for each other. This is the beginning of the friction that snowballs into frequent disputes and ultimately the relationship ends up being terminated in the court.”

Another advocate said inter-religion and inter-caste marriages also had a major role to play in these failed marriages. The partners often end up blaming each other of being disrespectful towards his or her religion/caste. However, psychiatrists blamed it all on the incompatibility factor.

Anil Kumar, a psychiatrist, explained the trend of unsuccessful love marriages as a 'Boderline Personality Disorder' of the partners. Individual experiences, severe disturbance in characterological constitution and behavioural tendencies tend to make the individual stubborn and irritable, Kumar said.

“People affected by the disorder get attracted to each other in the beginning and as the initial romance starts wearing-off, the real side of the individual is exposed. Such people do things which they like and will show complete disregard for the other partner,” Kumar said.