Delhi High Court: Family Courts Must Avoid Lengthy Adjournments, Prioritize Counseling Proceedings
Justice Navin Chawla of the Delhi High Court recently emphasized that family courts should refrain from granting excessively long adjournments while referring parties to counseling. The court stressed the importance of overseeing counseling proceedings regularly, which becomes challenging with prolonged adjournments.
In a case involving a matrimonial dispute, the Court noted that despite approximately 4000 pending matrimonial cases before the Family Court, extended adjournments were not justified. The matter in question had been adjourned for around five months, prompting the Court to intervene.
The plea filed by the husband sought a time-bound disposal of the divorce petition and challenged a family court order. The family court had referred the parties to a court counselor on March 14, 2023, and adjourned the proceedings until October 18, which was deemed excessive.
Justice Chawla concurred with the petitioner's argument that such a lengthy adjournment hindered the possibility of an amicable settlement between the parties. Consequently, the High Court advanced the hearing of the case to August 8, in a bid to expedite the resolution.
The Court further directed the family court not to grant unwarranted adjournments to either party and urged them to prioritize the prompt adjudication of pending petitions.
Advocate Ayushi Jain represented the petitioner-husband, while Advocates Rajal Rai, Rohan Sharma, and Poonam Sharma appeared for the respondent-wife.
TAGS: Delhi High Court family courts adjournments counseling matrimonial cases time-bound disposal divorce petition amicable settlement expeditious adjudication court counselor advocates.
