Pune: In a rare and swift judgment, a Family Court in Pune granted mutual divorce to a highly educated couple within 18 days of filing their petition. The couple, Manish and Manali (names changed), had been living separately for two years due to irreconcilable ideological differences.

The judgment was delivered by Family Court Judge Bhatia, waiving the mandatory six-month waiting period as per the Supreme Court's guidelines.

The couple, married in January 2016, has a two-year-old son. After separating in December 2022, they decided to file for divorce with mutual consent. The petition, filed on December 28, 2024, was finalized on January 9, 2025, marking a swift conclusion to the case. Advocates Pratik Namdeo Arote and Prajakta Gajarmal represented the couple.

The court ruled that the child would remain in the custody of the mother while the father would retain visitation rights. Both parties confirmed that there were no financial disputes or property claims between them.

Advocate Arote explained, "Given that the couple had been living separately for over two years and were in mutual agreement to dissolve their marriage, it was unnecessary to enforce the additional six-month waiting period. This decision has saved valuable time for both parties, allowing them to move forward with their lives."