JUDGMENT

Devan Ramachandran , J.

The respondent pronounced “Khula” against the appellant on 30.06.2021 and she asserts that this was done after several rounds of mediation were attempted and completed between the parties; and after she made it luculent that she was willing to return the “Mahar”.

2. It transpires that the respondent, thereupon, filed OP No.759/2021 before the learned Family Court, Kozhikode, seeking endorsement of the “Khula” and for declaration of the marital status of the parties as being divorced, which has been allowed by the said Court through the impugned judgment.

3. The appellant challenges the impugned order on various grounds, but primarily that he did not receive the “Khula letter” and that there was no attempt of mediation between the parties prior to its pronouncement.

4. Sri.K.H.Asif – learned counsel for the appellant, argued that, when his client had filed his counter statement averring specifically that he had not received the “Khula letter”, nor had there been a conciliation precedent to it, it was impermissible for the learned Family Court to have allowed the endorsement as sought for by the respondent and to have resultantly declared the marital stat