against the appellant in Patna, Motihari, and Delhi. Similarly, the appellant had earlier filed two divorce petitions against the respondent in Patna, however, the same were dismissed in default. Thereafter, the appellant filed the above divorce petition, that is HMA 610/2019, in Delhi, wherein, vide Judgment dated 01.04.2022, the learned Family Court passed an ex parte Decree of divorce in favour of the appellant. 11. In the said divorce petition, the respondent appeared and filed her written statement on 07.03.2020. Thereafter, issues were framed, and the matter proceeded for evidence of the appellant as well as for arguments on the application filed by the respondent under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (hereinafter referred to as, ‘HMA’). However, on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cases were adjourned en bloc . Even during this intervening period, on 07.10.2021, the proxy counsel for the respondent had appeared virtually. The matter was then adjourned to 10.01.2022. On the said date, no adverse orders were passed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the case was further adjourned to 22.03.2022 for recording the evidence of the appellant and for hearing arguments on the interim maintenance application.
