GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court has remarked that it is increasingly functioning as a matrimonial and bail court, highlighting the rising number of such cases being filed before it.
The observation came during the hearing of a plea by an Army officer seeking intervention in matrimonial proceedings that had faced repeated adjournments in the Rajasthan High Court.
According to a BarandBench report, a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta noted on Friday, September 26, that while constitutional and other significant matters await hearing, the court is burdened by matrimonial disputes from across the country. “If we start entertaining these matters for being adjourned, this Court would be flooded with divorce petitions from all over the country… all divorce matters will come before this Court. As it is, we are more of a matrimonial and bail court now. Soon, it will become totally matrimonial,” the bench passed the witty remark.
The petitioner’s counsel argued that the high court had not taken up the case despite repeated listings and requested that the Supreme Court issue notice limited to the issue of mediation, aiming to facilitate an amicable settlement between the parties.
Justice Nath cautioned against entertaining such pleas merely due to adjournments at the high court level, warning that doing so would open the floodgates to matrimonial cases nationwide. The court emphasised that it cannot bypass procedural norms without inviting a surge of similar matters from all over the country.
Following these observations, the petitioner’s counsel sought permission to withdraw the plea, with liberty to approach the high court for early hearing.
The Supreme Court allowed the request, underscoring its reluctance to intervene in matters where procedural remedies at the high court level remain available.