Bombay High Court orders family court to decide divorce case of Yuzvendra Chahal, Dhanashree Verma tomorrow

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday allowed a plea filed by Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and his estranged wife Dhanashree Verma seeking to waive the cooling-off period of six months stipulated under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act for a divorce decree..Single-judge Justice Madhav Jamdar also directed the family court to decide the divorce petition by tomorrow considering Chahal's participation in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL). "As petitioner 1 (Chahal) is participant of IPL, learned counsel informs that he may not be available from 21st March, the learned judge family court is requested to decide petition by tomorrow," the Court directed. Chahal, who is a spinner for the Kings XI Punjab IPL team, is set to join his team for the league commencing on March 22.The Court passed the order after taking into consideration the fact that Chahal and Verma have been living apart for over two and a half years and that there was compliance with the consent terms arrived at during mediation between the two parties as regards payment of alimony. .Under Section 13B(2), a family court can consider a mutual petition for divorce only after six months from the date of its filing. The cooling-off period is provided to explore possibilities of settlement and reunion. However, the Supreme Court in 2017 had held that the said period can be waived off in case there is no scope for settlement of dispute between the parties.Chahal and Verma got married in December 2020 and separated in June 2022.They filed a joint petition before family court on February 5 seeking divorce on the basis of mutual consent.They also sought waiver of the cooling-off period.The family court on February 20 denied the request to waive the statutory cooling-off period.This was on the ground that there was only partial compliance with the consent terms which required Chahal to pay ₹4.75 crore to Dhanashree. He has paid ₹2.37 crores, the family court noted.The family court also cited a report of the marriage counselor which had said that there was only partial compliance with the mediation efforts.This led to the plea before the High Court.The High Court said there was compliance with the consent terms as it provided for the payment of the second installment of permanent alimony only after the decree of divorce.."Thus it is clear that there is no impediment in the facts and circumstances of the case in granting the applications... Accordingly, impugned order dated 20th February is quashed and set aside and the writ is allowed," the High Court ordered allowing the plea. .Advocate Nitin Gupta appeared for Yuzvendra Chahal, and advocate Aditi Mohoni appeared for Dhanashree Verma