Chenni, Oct 17:
The Madras High Court has observed that the COVID-19 pandemic had severely affected marital relationships and called for a different approach to resolving disputes involving couples who married during the pandemic years.
Justice N Anand Venkatesh made the observations while hearing a civil revision petition. The judge noted that more than 95 per cent of the matrimonial disputes that came before the court involved couples married between 2019 and 2022. In many cases, the couples had lived together for only six to nine months, while some had shared a home for just three months.
The court observed that the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic, including lockdowns and uncertainty about the future, had placed unusual pressure on marital relationships. Living together under such conditions could expose both the strengths and weaknesses of the partners, the judge noted.
The court said disputes arising from marriages solemnised between 2020 and 2022 should be treated as a separate category and suggested exploring alternative methods to resolve them amicably.
It directed all principal district judges in Tamil Nadu to collect data from Family Courts and other courts handling matrimonial disputes involving couples married during the period and submit it before the next hearing on November 27. The court also said it would seek the assistance of family court lawyers to explore possible solutions.
The court disposed of the revision petition after finding the monthly maintenance of Rs 10,000 fixed by the Alandur sub-court in March reasonable. It directed the husband to pay the arrears within four weeks.