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Allahabad High Court
Rupal Shukla vs Abhay Shukla on 19 March, 2026
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
Neutral Citation No. - 2026:AHC:56223
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
MATTERS UNDER ARTICLE 227 No. - 3432 of 2026
Rupal Shukla
.....Petitioner(s)
Versus
Abhay Shukla
.....Respondent(s)
Counsel for Petitioner(s)
:
Abhiuday Mehrotra, Gaurav Dhar, Sharad Kumar
Counsel for Respondent(s)
:
Court No. - 5
HON'BLE MANISH KUMAR NIGAM, J.
1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and perused the record.
2. The writ petition has been filed seeking following relief :-
"Kindly Issue an appropriate order or direction directing the Learned Additional Principal Judge, Family Court No. 2, District Prayagraj, to decide Case No. 1435 of 2021 (Rupal Shukla vs. Abhay Shukla), filed under Sections 13, 25, 26 and 27 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, within a stipulated time-frame or as expeditiously as possible, as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the interest of justice."
3. Contention of learned counsel for the petitioner is that the proceedings under Section 13, 12, 26 & 27 of the Hindu Marriage Act are pending since 2021. It has been further contended by learned counsel for the petitioner that appropriate directions be issued to the Additional Principal Judge, Family Court No. 2, District Prayagraj seized with the proceedings of divorce under Section 13, 12, 26 & 27 of the Hindu Marriage Act to decide the same within a stipulated time or in a time frame as may be fixed by this Court.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner brought attention of the Court to the provision of Section 21-B of the Hindu Marriage Act which contemplates to conclude the trial within six months from the date of service of notice of petition on the respondents.
5. Section 21-B of the Hindu Marriage Act is quoted as under:
"21-B. Special provision relating to trial and disposal of petitions under the Act.-(1) The trial of a petition under this Act shall, so far as is practicable consistently with the interest of justice in respect of the trial, be continued from day to day until its conclusion unless the Court finds the adjournment of the trial beyond the following day to be necessary for reasons to be recorded.
(2) Every petition under this Act shall be tried as expeditiously as possible and endeavour shall be made to conclude the trial within six months from the date of service of notice of the petition on the respondent.
(3) Every appeal under this Act shall be tried as expeditiously as possible, and endeavour shall be made to conclude the hearing within three months from the date of service of notice of appeal on the respondent."
6. In view of the statutory requirement as contemplated under Section 21-B of the Hindu Marriage Act, no useful purpose would be served in keeping this petition pending.
7. The Additional Principal Judge, Family Court No. 2, District Prayagraj is directed to consider and decide the aforesaid pending proceeding before him, in accordance with law, expeditiously, after giving opportunity of hearing to the parties concerned as well as opportunity to lead evidence in support of their case and without granting unnecessary adjournments to either of the parties provided that there is no other legal impediment, keeping in view the statutory mandate of Section 21-B of the Hindu Marriage Act quoted above.
8. With these observation, this petition is disposed of.
(Manish Kumar Nigam,J.)
March 19, 2026
Ved Prakash
