The Supreme Court on Friday intervened in a long-pending matrimonial dispute and requested the Patna High Court to expedite the hearing of the matter.

Counsel for the petitioner informed the Court that a decree of divorce on the ground of cruelty had been granted by the trial court in September 2008, but the appeal filed against the decree has remained pending before the Patna High Court since 2012. It was submitted that the matter had once been reserved for judgment 2017 but could not be pronounced as the presiding judge was transferred.

Taking note of the prolonged delay, the Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that matrimonial disputes require timely resolution so that parties can move forward with their lives. The Court remarked:

“If the High Courts are not able to take up such matters on an out-of-turn basis, how can we bring some hope for the parties either to live together or part ways?”

Although the Court noted that it ordinarily does not entertain such requests for expedition, it considered the exceptional delay in the case and the impact on the parties involved.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court requested the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court to list the pending matrimonial appeal before an appropriate bench and directed that the matter be heard and decided within three weeks.