Trisha Singh Vs Anurag Kumar (Supreme Court of India)
The Supreme Court allowed a transfer petition filed by the petitioner-wife seeking transfer of a matrimonial proceeding instituted by the respondent-husband under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 from the Family Court at Varanasi to the Family Court at Pune. During the pendency of the transfer petition, the matter was referred to the Supreme Court Mediation Centre, where the parties executed a settlement agreement on 26 February 2024 providing for dissolution of their marriage by mutual consent. Under the settlement, the respondent-husband stated that he had voluntarily paid approximately ₹20 lakh towards the child’s expenses between March 2020 and October 2023 and agreed to pay permanent alimony of ₹1.15 crore. The settlement recorded payment of ₹50 lakh on 22 February 2024, with the balance payable in two instalments of ₹50 lakh on or before 31 August 2024 and ₹15 lakh on or before 31 December 2024. It also provided for return of the petitioner’s gold, jewellery, and silver articles.
When the matter came up before the Supreme Court, it was informed that the petitioner-wife had resiled from the settlement agreement. Her counsel stated that she had stopped instructing him. The Court noted that, acting upon the settlement, the respondent-husband had already withdrawn his matrimonial case before the Family Court and had paid ₹50 lakh towards permanent alimony. The respondent also undertook before the Supreme Court that he would comply with the remaining terms of the settlement and make the balance payments if the marriage was dissolved.
