Weekend divorce hearings for professional couples

For the first time in the country, divorce cases will be heard even on Sundays in Tamil Nadu. The government wants other states to follow this practice too.

For the first time in the country, divorce cases will be heard even on Sundays in Tamil Nadu. The government wants other states to follow this practice too.

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The Madras High Court has decided to make family courts work on weekends exclusively hearing cases of married professional couples seeking divorce.

“There are 1,500 divorce cases pending in family courts in Tamil Nadu,” M.Y. Eqbal, Madras High Court chief justice, told HT. “A majority of them are disputes involving married couples working in MNCs. These professionals find it difficult to attend court on working days. In some cases, I have found them to be working 15 hours a day, that is why we have decided to have holiday court.”

Holiday courts will start functioning from later this month, Eqbal said.

The government has praised the idea and wants other states to follow it. “The idea was first mooted by Chief Justice Eqbal,” said Veerappa Moily, Law Minister. “It is a good step.”

“I think we’re going to ask all family courts across the country to adopt this practice,” he added.

Law ministry figures reveal that there are a total of 55,000 divorce cases pending across 200 family courts in the country.

According to ministry officials, divorce cases among professional couples were on the rise and the holiday courts concept evolved by the Madras High Court "was an innovative step."

Moily said the government was confident of getting the Marriage Laws (Amendment) bill, 2010, passed during the monsoon session of parliament, which will facilitate a quick divorce among couples whose marriages cannot be retrieved.