"They Know Each Other From Law School": SC Refers Lawyer Couple To Mediation, Asks Them To Make Endeavours To Reconcile
The Supreme Court, on Monday, in a transfer petition, referred a lawyer couple to Supreme Court Mediation Centre to address and resolve their matrimonial discord. While referring them, the Court expressed its inclination for the parties to try and make endeavours to get back together, as they knew each other from law school.
In the matter, the respondent-husband placed an interim parenting plan for their 7 year old daughter, and suggestions on the issue of divorce before the Court.
After discussing with the parties, a bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia observed, “We do believe the parties should make some endeavour to see if they can get together, as they know each other from the law school and both are lawyers now”.
AOR Vandana Sehgal appeared for the petitioner, and Advocate Saakaar Sardana appeared for the respondent.
The petition was filed by the petitioner-wife seeking transfer of petition filed by the respondent-husband pending before the Principal Judge, Family Court at Bandra, Mumbai to Family Court, Cyberabad at Kukatpally, Ranga Reddy District, Telangana.
It was the case of the petitioner that she lives with her minor 7 years old daughter and that she is not in a position to travel to pursue the matter before the Principal Judge, Family Court at Bandra, Mumbai.
Consequentially, noting the above factual matrix, the bench while directing both the parties to be present before the Court, had observed in its July 20, 2023 order, “Both the parties are lawyers and are living apart for about a year and a half. Both the parties have filed divorce petitions. Despite that it is stated there are some issues arising from joint ownership of assets and the manner in which the visiting rights for the child have to be taken up”.
Earlier, a bench of Justice Sanjay Karol of the Supreme Court, through an order dated April 17, 2023 while issuing notice had stayed further proceedings pending before the Family Court at Bandra, Mumbai.
Therefore, the bench while directing the Mediation Centre to appoint a Senior Mediator dealing with matrimonial cases in the matter, also noted in its order, “The parties are referred to the Supreme Court Mediation Centre where the Mediator will take the assistance of a marriage counsellor to see if things can work out inter se the parties”.
Cause Title: Tripti Sinha v. Atreya Shanker Bhatacharya
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