Under the proviso to Section 29(1) of the Special Marriage Act, 1954, district court may allow petition…

The proviso to section 29(1) lets the district court allow an earlier petition only on the ground that "the case is one of exceptional hardship suffered by the petitioner or of exceptional depravity on the part of the respondent". Ordinary hardship, a ground such as cruelty, or the respondent's consent is not enough.