Source: https://www.shoneekapoor.com/amardeep-singh-vs-harveen-kaur/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 07:04:02+00:00

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Waiver of statutory period of six months for Second motion — In conducting such proceedings Court can also use medium of video conferencing and also permit genuine representation of parties through close relations such as parents or siblings where parties are unable to appear in person for any just and valid reason as may satisfy Court, to advance the interest of Justice.
The question which arises for consideration in this appeal is whether the minimum period of six months stipulated under Section 13B(2) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (the Act) for a motion for passing decree of divorce on the basis of mutual consent is mandatory or can be relaxed in any exceptional situations.
2. Factual matrix giving rise to this appeal is that marriage between the parties took place on 16th January, 1994 at Delhi. Two children were born in 1995 and 2003 respectively. Since 2008 the parties are living separately. Disputes between the parties gave rise to civil and criminal proceedings. Finally, on 28th April, 2017 a settlement was arrived at to resolve all the disputes and seeks divorce by mutual consent. The respondent wife is to be given permanent alimony of Rs. 2.75 crores. Accordingly, HMA No. 1059 of 2017 was filed before the Family Court (West), Tis Hazari Court, New Delhi and on 8th May, 2017 statements of the parties were recorded. The appellant husband has also handed over two cheques of Rs. 50,00,000/-, which have been duly honoured, towards part payment of permanent alimony. Custody of the children is to be with the appellant. They have sought waiver of the period of six months for the second motion on the ground that they have been living separately for the last more than eight years and there is no possibility of their re union. Any delay will affect the chances of their resettlement. The parties have moved this Court on the ground that only this Court can relax the six months period as per decisions of this Court.
3. Reliance has been placed inter alia on decision of this Court in Nikhil Kumar v. Rupali Kumar, 229 (2016) DLT 561 (SC)=III (2016) SLT 644=II (2016) DMC 235 (SC)=(2016) 13 SCC 383, wherein the statutory period of six months was waived by this Court under Article 142 of the Constitution and the marriage was dissolved.
“13-B. Divorce by mutual consent—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act a petition for dissolution of marriage by a decree of divorce may be presented to the district court by both the parties to a marriage together, whether such marriage was solemnized before or after the commencement of the Marriage Laws (Amendment) Act, 1976, on the ground that they have been living separately for a period of one year or more, that they have not been able to live together and that they have mutually agreed that the marriage should be dissolved.
6. In Neeti Malviya v. Rakesh Malviya (2010) 6 SCC 413, this Court observed that there was conflict of decisions in Manish Goel (supra) and Anjana Kishore v. Puneet Kishore, VIII (2001) SLT 459=(2002) 10 SCC 194. The matter was referred to bench of three-Judges. However, since the matter became infructuous on account of grant of divorce in the meanwhile Order dated 23rd August, 2011 in Transfer Petition (Civil) No. 899 of 2007.
7. Without any reference to the judgment in Manish Goel (supra), power under Article 142 of the Constitution has been exercised by this Court in number of cases Priyanka Singh v. Jayant Singh, ; Sarita Singh v. Rajeshwar Singh, ; Harpreet Singh Popli v. Manmeet Kaur Pople; Hitesh Bhatnagar v. Deepa Bhatnagar; Veena v. State; Priyanka Khanna v. Amit Khanna; Devinder Singh Narula v. Meenakshi Nangia; Vimi Vinod Chopra v. Vinod Gulshan Chopra; Priyanka Chawla v. Amit Chawla, I ; Nikhil Kumar v. Rupali Kumar (supra), even after the said judgment.
8. We find that in Anjana Kishore (supra), this Court was dealing with a transfer petition and the parties reached a settlement. This Court waived the six months period under Article 142 in the facts and circumstances of the case. In Anil Kumar Jain v. Maya Jain, one of the parties withdrew the consent. This Court held that marriage had irretrievably broken down and though the civil courts and the High Court could not exercise power contrary to the statutory provisions, this Court under Article 142 could exercise such power in the interests of justice. Accordingly the decree for divorce was granted.
9. After considering the above decisions, we are of the view that since Manish Goel (supra), holds the field, in absence of contrary decisions by a larger Bench, power under Article 142 of the Constitution cannot be exercised contrary to the statutory provisions, especially when no proceedings are pending before this Court and this Court is approached only for the purpose of waiver of the statute.
“List the matter on 23rd August, 2017 to consider the question whether provision of Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage, Act, 1955 laying down cooling off period of six months is a mandatory requirement or it is open to the Family Court to waive the same having regard to the interest of justice in an individual case.
Mr. K.V. Vishwanathan, Senior Counsel is appointed as Amicus to assist the Court. Registry to furnish copy of necessary papers to learned Amicus”.
12. Accordingly, learned amicus curiae has assisted the Court. We record our gratitude for the valuable assistance rendered by learned amicus who has been ably assisted by S/Shri Abhishek Kaushik, Vrinda Bhandari and Mukunda Rao Angara, Advocates.
How long parties have been married?
How long litigation is pending?
How long they have been staying apart?
Are there any other proceedings between the parties?
Have the parties attended mediation/conciliation?
Have the parties arrived at genuine settlement which takes care of alimony, custody of child or any other pending issues between the parties?
14. The Court must be satisfied that the parties were living separately for more than the statutory period and all efforts at mediation and reconciliation have been tried and have failed and there is no chance of reconciliation and further waiting period will only prolong their agony.
15. We have given due consideration to the issue involved. Under the traditional Hindu Law, as it stood prior to the statutory law on the point, marriage is a sacrament and cannot be dissolved by consent. The Act enabled the court to dissolve marriage on statutory grounds. By way of amendment in the year 1976, the concept of divorce by mutual consent was introduced. However, Section 13B(2) contains a bar to divorce being granted before six months of time elapsing after filing of the divorce petition by mutual consent. The said period was laid down to enable the parties to have a rethink so that the court grants divorce by mutual consent only if there is no chance for reconciliation.
16. The object of the provision is to enable the parties to dissolve a marriage by consent if the marriage has irretrievably broken down and to enable them to rehabilitate them as per available options. The amendment was inspired by the thought that forcible perpetuation of status of matrimony between unwilling partners did not serve any purpose. The object of the cooling off the period was to safeguard against a hurried decision if there was otherwise possibility of differences being reconciled. The object was not to perpetuate a purposeless marriage or to prolong the agony of the parties when there was no chance of reconciliation. Though every effort has to be made to save a marriage, if there are no chances of reunion and there are chances of fresh rehabilitation, the Court should not be powerless in enabling the parties to have a better option.
“The study of numerous cases on this topic does not lead to formulation of any universal rule except this that language alone most often is not decisive, and regard must be had to the context, subject-matter and object of the statutory provision in question, in determining whether the same is mandatory or directory. In an oft-quoted passage Lord Campbell said: ‘No universal rule can be laid down as to whether mandatory enactments shall be considered directory only or obligatory with an implied nullification for disobedience. It is the duty of courts of justice to try to get at the real intention of the legislature by carefullyattending to the whole scope of the statute to be considered.
the waiting period will only prolong their agony.
19. The waiver application can be filed one week after the first motion giving reasons for the prayer for waiver.
20. If the above conditions are satisfied, the waiver of the waiting period for the second motion will be in the discretion of the concerned Court.
21. Since we are of the view that the period mentioned in Section 13B(2) is not mandatory but directory, it will be open to the Court to exercise its discretion in the facts and circumstances of each case where there is no possibility of parties resuming cohabitation and there are chances of alternative rehabilitation.
22. Needless to say that in conducting such proceedings the Court can also use the medium of video conferencing and also permit genuine representation of the parties through close relations such as parents or siblings where the parties are unable to appear in person for any just and valid reason as may satisfy the Court, to advance the interest of Justice.
23. The parties are now at liberty to move the concerned court for fresh consideration in the light of this order.
The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
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PRATEEK GUPTA Vs. SHILPI GUPTA & ORS.

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