Pune: A couple who had been living apart for 18 months due to ideological differences received a mutual divorce within 20 days after filing their petition. The legal proceedings were expedited through a 'Taken on Board' petition, allowing the husband to join the army without any delay.
The couple tied the knot on November 28, 2022, under the Special Marriage Act and initially lived together in Kothrud, Pune. However, differences soon arose, leading them to separate on May 1, 2023. Eventually, they filed for divorce in Pune Family Court on February 1, 2025.
The court had scheduled the next hearing for March 5. However, the husband, being in the army, had to report for duty on February 5 and would be unable to return for six months. This meant that the divorce process would have been significantly delayed, forcing the wife to wait longer.
To prevent this, Advocate Ketan Shinde filed a ‘Taken on Board’ petition on February 3, submitting the husband's army joining letter. After completing all formalities, the court rescheduled the hearing to February 20 and approved the divorce under Section 28 of the Special Marriage Act.
In most cases, courts require both parties to be physically present during hearings. However, as all legal formalities had been met, the court proceeded with the case even in their absence. This ensured that the husband could join the army without legal complications, and the wife did not face prolonged delays.
What is a ‘Taken on Board’ Petition?
A ‘Taken on Board’ petition is a legal request filed when urgent matters require a case to be heard before its scheduled date. In this instance, it was used to accommodate the husband’s military service requirement. The formalities were completed on February 3, and the divorce was granted on February 20.