Nidhi Singh Chauhan vs Ankush Singh Chowhan — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Nidhi Singh Chauhan vs Ankush Singh Chowhan — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Transfer application disposed of on the Applicant's submission: Applicant-wife permitted to appear before the learned Family Court, Pune through VC mode, with obligation to attend in person when directed by the trial Judge; Respondent-husband to pay travelling expenses of the Applicant and her accompanying person and bear her lodging expenses at Pune, payable at least 5 days before each hearing (Applicant to give 8 days' notice of travel); hearing of Marriage Petition No. 541 of 2023 expedited; matter stood over to 02.02.2026 under caption 'For Compliance'; counsel to take instructions on amicable settlement.

Issue for consideration

Whether the divorce proceeding filed by the Respondent-husband pending before the learned Family Court, Pune should be transferred to the District Court, Gondia. +1 more

Court's answer

In view of the Applicant's submission, the Miscellaneous Civil Application (transfer application) stands disposed of with directions, rather than being allowed or dismissed on merits.

Ratio / Principle

The Applicant-wife is permitted to appear before the learned Family Court, Pune through VC mode.

Key takeaways

The Applicant will have to attend the proceedings in person whenever necessary, as per the directions of the learned Judge taking up the matter.ratio¶¶23
Whenever the Applicant attends the Court proceeding physically before the Family Court, Pune, the Respondent-husband shall pay her travelling expenses and those of the person accompanying her, and bear her lodging expenses at Pune.ratio¶¶24
Such expenses are to be paid at least 5 days before the scheduled date of hearing, and the Applicant must inform the Respondent 8 days before the travel.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Transfer of divorce proceeding — Miscellaneous Civil Application disposed of on the legal-aid counsel's statement, on instructions, that the divorce proceeding may continue before the Family Court, Pune if the Applicant-wife is allowed to appear through video conferencing — Directions: (i) Applicant permitted to appear through VC mode but must attend in person whenever directed by the trial Judge; (ii) Respondent-husband to pay travelling expenses of the Applicant and her accompanying person and bear her lodging expenses at Pune whenever she attends physically; (iii) expenses payable at least 5 days before the hearing date, Applicant to inform Respondent 8 days before travel — Hearing of Marriage Petition No. 541 of 2023 expedited — Court suggested amicable settlement; counsel to take instructions — Matter listed on 02.02.2026 under caption 'For Compliance' (Coram: Rajesh S. Patil, J.).

MCA 159-2025.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

MISCELLANEOUS CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 159 OF 2025

ANAND SUDHAKAR SUDAME

Digitally signed by ANAND SUDHAKAR SUDAME

Date: 2026.01.17 18:42:48 +0530

Nidhi Singh Chauhan

..Applicant

Versus

Ankush Singh Chowhan

..Respondent

Ms. Hiral B. Thakkar, Advocate, for the Applicant Mr. Amol Jagtap a/w. Mr. Adarash S. Mishra and Ms. Ritika Gangwani, Advocates, for the Respondent

CORAM : RAJESH S. PATIL, J.

DATE : 16.01.2026

P. C.

The present transfer Application is filed by the Applicant, wife of

the Respondent seeking transfer of divorce proceeding filed by the Respondent – husband before the learned Family Court, Pune to the District Court, Gondia.

After this matter was argued for some time, learned Counsel appointed through legal aid for the Applicant, on instructions, submits that the divorce proceeding can proceed further before the learned Family Court, Pune subject to the Applicant being allowed to appear through VC mode.

In view of the same, the Miscellaneous Civil Application stands disposed off with the following directions.

1 of 3

Anand

MCA 159-2025.doc

(i) The Applicant – wife is permitted to appear before the learned Family Court, Pune through VC mode. However, whenever necessary, as per the directions of the learned Judge taking up the matter, the Applicant will have to attend the proceedings in person;

(ii) Whenever the Applicant attends Court proceeding physically before the learned Family Court, Pune, the Respondent – husband would be paying travelling expenses, for her and the person who would be accompanying her and will also bear the expenses for her lodging at Pune;

(iii) Such expenses should be paid at least 5 days before the date of hearing is scheduled. The Applicant will inform the Respondent 8 days before the travel.

3.1 The hearing of the Marriage Petition No. 541 of 2023 pending before the learned Family Court, Pune is hereby expedited.

At this stage, on suggestion put forward by this Court, both the learned Counsel are willing to take instructions from their respective clients, whether the dispute between the parties can be amicably settled ?

The Miscellaneous Civil Application stands disposed of.

2 of 3

Anand

MCA 159-2025.doc

Stand over to 02.02.2026 . The matter to come up on under the

caption “For Compliance”.

(RAJESH S. PATIL, J.)

3 of 3

Anand