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2023 Supreme(Raj) 2078

IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN
Pushpendra Singh Bhati, J.
Rohit Ralhan - Petitioner
Versus
Shri Madhuri Bhatia – Respondent
S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 6798 of 2023
Decided On : 18-05-2023

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Dr. Mohit Singhvi
For the Respondent: Mrs. Harveer Sidhu

Headnote:(A) Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 - Section 13-B(2) - Waiver of statutory period for divorce - Petition to waive six months’ waiting period dismissed by Family Court; Supreme Court conditions met for waiver; parties mutually decided to end marriage after due deliberation, concluding reconciliation is impossible. (Paras 1, 11, 13)

(B) Statutory interpretation - The statutory period is directory, allowing the court discretion based on parties’ circumstances. The court recognizes both parties are educated and aware of their rights, having mutually agreed to terminate their marriage. (Paras 10, 12)

Facts of the case:
The marriage was solemnized on 29.01.2015; parties living separately since 30.07.2020 without reconciliation despite counseling. A joint application for divorce by mutual consent was filed on 18.01.2023, including a waiver request for the statutory period.

Findings of Court:
Conditions for waiver as per Supreme Court precedent fulfilled; hence, petition is granted, waiving the statutory period of six months required under the Act.

Issues: The court addressed whether the application for waiver of the statutory period under Section 13-B(2) should be granted given the agreement between the parties.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held the statutory waiting period is not mandatory but directory, allowing for waiver in absence of reconciliation as per established Supreme Court criteria.

Result: Petition allowed; order of Family Court set aside.

Table of Content
1. aggrieved parties seek divorce by consent. (Para 1 , 3 , 4)
2. parties argue for waiver of statutory period. (Para 2 , 5 , 7 , 8)
3. supreme court's guiding principles for waiver. (Para 9 , 10)
4. conditions for waiver fulfilled in this case. (Para 11 , 12)
5. writ petition allowed; order set aside. (Para 13 , 14 , 15)

ORDER :

(Pushpendra Singh Bhati, J.)

This writ petition has been preferred on behalf of the petitioner being aggrieved with the order dated 06.05.2023 passed by the Family Court No.1, Jodhpur (for short 'the Court below') in Suit No.298/2023, whereby the joint application filed by the petitioner and the respondent (hereinafter "parties") for waiver of six months period prescribed under Section 13-B(2) of the HINDU MARRIAGE ACT , 1955 (for short 'the Act of 1955') has been dismissed.

2. Mrs. Harveer Sidhu, learned counsel for the respondent, submitted that the respondent is also aggrieved with the order impugned and this writ petition has been filed with the consent of the respondent. Learned counsel submitted that he she no objection if the relief prayed for in this writ petition is granted.

3. Brief facts of the case are that the marriage of the parties was solemnized as per Hindu customs on 29.01.2015 at Faridabad. It appears that soon after the marriage, the relations of the parties became strained and both of them have been residing separately from last three years i.e. 30.07.2020.

4. Despite the best efforts of the parties to restore conjugal relations and in spite of regular counselling by their near relatives, the matrimonial dispute between them could not be settled, the relations between the parties have become sour and it is impossible for both of them to continue the marriage, and for which, the respective families have also extended their consent, and therefore the parties jointly filed an application under Section 13-B of the Act of 1955 seeking divorce by mutual consent before the court below on 18.01.2023.

5. In the meantime, the parties preferred a joint application praying for waiver of six months' statutory period specified under Section 13-B(2) of the Act of 1955. Arguments on the said application were heard and the court below dismissed the said application vide its order dated 06.05.2023.

6. Being aggrieved with order dated 06.05.2023, the present writ petition has been preferred before this Court.

7. Learned counsel for the parties have submitted that both, the petitioner and the respondent are educated persons and both of them have decided to end their marriage by mutual consent after due deliberations. It is also submitted that the decision by the parties to end their marriage has not been taken in a hurry and reconciliation between the parties is highly unlikely. It is further submitted that the conditions set out in the case of Amardeep Singh v. Harveen Kaur , reported in (2017) 8 SCC 746, under which statutory period of six months, as specified under Section 13-B(2) of the Act of 1955, can be waived are fulfilled in the present case and the court below has erred in refusing waiver of the six months' statutory period.

8. Learned counsel for the parties have therefore jointly prayed that the order impugned be set aside and the court below be directed to condone or waive the statutory period specified under Section 13-B(2) of the Act of 1955.

9. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the impugned order.

10. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Amardeep Singh's case (supra) has held as under :-

    "19. Applying the above to the present situation, we are of the view that where the Court dealing with a matter is satisfied that a case is made out to waive the statutory period under Section 13- B(2), it can do so after considering the following :

    i) the statutory period of six months specified in Section 13-B(2), in addition to the statutory period of one year under Section 13-B(1) of separation of parties is already over before the first motion itself;

    ii) all efforts for mediatio

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