SC to decide on settling marital disputes via videoconference

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to decide if the matrimonial disputes or custody matters between couples residing in different states or districts be adjudicated through video conferencing.

The apex court is seized of a large number of matrimonial disputes in which estranged spouses seek transfer of their cases from one state to another on various grounds.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, after hearing submissions of senior advocate Ajit Sinha appointed as amicus curiae in the case, reserved its order.

At the outset, Sinha said that the order of a two-judge bench directing the courts to explore the possibility of video conferencing, impinges upon the right to privacy of estranged spouses.

He cited the recent privacy judgement of the apex court and said matrimonial proceedings should get the protection of privacy.

On August 9, Justices Kurian Joseph and R Banumathi had referred to a larger three-judge bench, the present petition filed by a woman seeking transfer of her case to dissolve marriage and custody of child, from a family court in Alappuzha, Kerala, to a family court in Chennai.

DH News Service