Rohit Watts v. Family Courts, Mohali And ANR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

CR No.2027 of 2022 Date of Decision : 02.06.2022 Rohit Watts ....Petitioner

VERSUS

Family Court, SAS Nagar (Mohali) and Another ....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ALKA SARIN

Present:

Mr. Ashwani Kumar Chopra, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Brahmjot Singh, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Sumeet Mahajan, Sr. Advocate with Ms. Rabani Attri, Advocate for respondent no.2. ALKA SARIN, J. (Oral) This is a revision petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a direction to the Family Court, SAS Nagar (Mohali) for expeditious disposal of the divorce petition being HMA No.643 of 2019 titled as "Rohit Watts vs. Sonia Virk".

Learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner contends that 20 opportunities have been taken by respondent no.2 to lead her evidence, however, till date only 2 witnesses have been examined. Learned senior counsel for the petitioner states that though the divorce petition itself is a bulky petition, there are a total 7 witnesses on behalf of the respondent no.2 and out of those 2 have already been examined and only 5 witnesses remain to depose in the matter. He also submitted that a long date has been given by the Family Court.

Mr. Sumeet Mahajan, learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of respondent no.2, states that 17 opportunities were taken by JITENDER KUMAR 2022.06.04 11:16 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh

CR No.2027 of 2022 -2respondent no.2 and not 20. He also submits that no unnecessary adjournment has been sought by respondent no.2 and that she will not seek any unnecessary adjournments in the matter.

The Family Court in it's order dated 02.05.2022, as reproduced in the revision petition, has noted that the Court would remain closed from 01.06.2022 to 30.06.2022 due to summer vacations and that the Court holds camp at Dera Bassi and Kharar on two days in a week. As such, the next date given by the Family Court cannot be faulted. However, considering the fact that 5 witnesses of respondent no.2 remain to be examined and also the fact that the divorce petition has been pending since over two and a half years, the present revision petition is disposed off with a request to the Family Court, SAS Nagar (Mohali) to decide the divorce petition (HMA No.643 of 2019) expeditiously and preferably within a period of eight months from the date of passing of this order. Disposed off.

Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed off. ( ALKA SARIN ) 02.06.2022 JUDGE jk NOTE : Whether speaking/non-speaking : Speaking Whether reportable : YES/NO JITENDER KUMAR 2022.06.04 11:16 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh