In Brief
Anu Bhandari and Pradip Bhandari, married in 1997 with two children, sought mutual divorce after living separately since 2011. They had become entangled in 23 pending lawsuits across multiple courts. The Supreme Court, following failed settlement attempts and Court-facilitated mediation, held that where parties have reached a genuine, comprehensive settlement, the mandatory six-month waiting period under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act need not be observed. The Court granted immediate divorce by mutual consent, disposed of all linked litigations, and ordered property transfer and financial settlements. The judgment emphasizes the Court's duty under the Family Courts Act to facilitate settlement and prevent protracted litigation between parties.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.