Lawyers should not fuel allegations in matrimonial disputes: Delhi HC

Delhi High Court emphasizes lawyers advising resolution in matrimonial disputes, imposes ₹1 lakh cost on husband for misbehaviour.

The Delhi High Court has remarked that lawyers must advise clients in matrimonial disputes for a resolution instead of levelling and “fuelling” allegations against each other.

A bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Amit Sharma observed in matrimonial disputes, the litigants experienced emotional trauma, with their personal lives coming to a standstill.

“Lawyers also have a great responsibility in such matters not only towards their own client but also towards the court and the society. Peace and tranquility are extremely necessary. Lawyers ought to advise clients towards resolution of disputes rather than making and fuelling allegations against each other,” said the court in an order passed on April 7.

The court made the observations while imposing costs of ₹1 lakh on a husband, to be paid to his estranged wife, for his misbehaviour in a family court, which included hurling profanities at the wife’s counsel.

While dealing with a woman’s plea for initiating criminal contempt proceedings against the husband and awarding him six-month jail time, the bench observed that though several events had occurred during the proceedings in the high court and the family courts, he couldn’t be squarely blamed.

There appeared to be some circumstances that had provoked him to exhibit such behaviour, the court said.

If there were any allegations against the counsel for the wife, the court said, the husband ought to have adopted the proper course of action and “hurling abuses in court would not be permissible”.