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2023 Supreme(Raj) 2091

IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN
Pushpendra Singh Bhati, J.
Usha Bhati - Petitioner
Versus
Pravesh Gehlot – Respondent
S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 7847 of 2023
Decided On : 01-06-2023

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner:Mr. Digvijay Singh Rathore, Advocate.
For the Respondent:Mr. Dinesh Bishnoi, Advocate.

Headnote:(A) Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 - Section 13-B(2) - Petition for waiver of statutory period for divorce by mutual consent - The court held the six-month waiting period prescribed under Section 13-B(2) could be waived when the conditions set out in Amardeep Singh v. Harveen Kaur were fulfilled, such as the separation period being over, failure of reconciliation efforts, and that waiting would prolong agony. (Paras 10, 11, 12)

(B) Applicability of Supreme Court's ruling - The court emphasized that the period under Section 13-B(2) is directory, permitting judicial discretion based on case facts where reconciliation is not possible. (Paras 10, 11)

Facts of the case:
The marriage took place on 20.11.2021, and the couple had been living separately since 01.03.2022. Both parties sought a waiver of the statutory period for divorce, citing the futility of reconciliation efforts.

Findings of Court:
The conditions for waiver were satisfied, and the impugned order was set aside, allowing the waiver application.

Issues: Whether the court below erred in not waiving the statutory waiting period.

Ratio Decidendi: The court supported waiver of the waiting period under the Hindu Marriage Act based on established conditions, affirming judicial discretion in divorce matters.

Result: Writ petition allowed; statutory period waived.

Table of Content
1. background of marriage and application for divorce. (Para 1 , 3 , 4)
2. parties' joint application for waiver of statutory period. (Para 2 , 7 , 8)
3. court's reasoning on fulfilling conditions for waiver. (Para 9 , 11)
4. conditions under which the statutory waiting period is waived. (Para 10 , 12)
5. conclusion and order granting waiver of statutory period. (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 10.05.2023 passed by the Family Court No.1, Jodhpur (for short 'the Court below') in Civil Case No.282/2023, 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. 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 will have 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 20.11.2021. It appears that soon after the marriage, the relations of the parties became strained and both of them have been residing separately from last about more than one year i.e. 01.03.2022.

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 18.04.2023.

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 10.05.2023.

6. Being aggrieved with order dated 10.05.2023, 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

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