Delhi virtual court grants first divorce online

Even after the Centre announced Unlock 1.0 asking offices and other establishments to run businesses while exercising proper precautions and complying with the COVID-19 guidelines laid down by the government, a few courts are still functioning online. While a few businesses opened offices, courts in most parts of the country have been conducting virtual hearing.

In one such hearing done via video-conferencing, a virtual court in Delhi granted a couple the first virtual divorce.

The couple who separated just a year after their marriage in 2017 had applied for divorce via mutual consent. The judge who heard the matter via videoconferencing with both the man and his former wife, granted them the first virtual divorce after sorting out the disputes between them.

The couple also sent soft copies of their signed consent to the court which has been placed in the court records. The court after examining the joint statement and petition submitted by the couple online, granted divorce by mutual consent.

The Delhi court opened the e-filing facility on June 13 which allows for litigants and lawyers to file petitions online. With the first divorce case being resolved online, there is a possibility of more litigants seeking hearing virtually.