Jayantha Vs Manasa R — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

Jayantha Vs Manasa R — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition disposed of with directions to the I Additional Principal Judge, Family Court, D.K., Mangaluru to fix a cross-examination date between 15.04.2026 and 30.04.2026 (preferably between 16.04.2026 and 21.04.2026), to post the matter day-to-day if adjourned, and to complete the cross-examination by 30.04.2026. The prayer to quash the impugned order dated 16.09.2025 was not granted; the impugned order was left undisturbed.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner, aggrieved by the Family Court's rejection of his request to record his cross-examination through video conference, was entitled to relief in this writ petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

The writ petition was disposed of with a direction to the Court of I Additional Principal Judge, Family Court, D.K., Mangaluru to fix a date between 15.04.2026 and 30.04.2026, preferably between 16.04.2026 and 21.04.2026, for cross-examination of the petitioner by the respondent or her counsel.

Key takeaways

The Family Court was further directed to post the matter day-to-day in case the matter is required to be adjourned, and to see that the cross-examination is completed by 30.04.2026.ratio¶¶44

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition No. 32855 of 2025 (GM-FC) under Article 227 of the Constitution of India: Jayantha (represented by power-of-attorney holder), a resident of South Africa and husband of respondent Manasa R., challenged the order dated 16.09.2025 of the I Additional Principal Judge, Family Court, D.K., Mangaluru in M.C.No. 45/2024, whereby his request to record his cross-examination through video conference was rejected; his chief affidavit in lieu of chief examination had been filed. Before the High Court (Dr. Justice Chillakur Sumalatha, oral order dated 10.02.2026), petitioner's counsel stated that the petitioner would come to India and stay from 15.04.2026 to 30.04.2026 and would face cross-examination on any day in that window, and respondent's counsel agreed to cross-examine the witness on any date given. The Court disposed of the writ petition directing the Family Court to (i) fix a date between 15.04.2026 and 30.04.2026, preferably between 16.04.2026 and 21.04.2026, for cross-examination of the petitioner by the respondent or her counsel, (ii) post the matter day-to-day in case of adjournment and see that the cross-examination is completed by 30.04.2026, and (iii) accordingly dispose of the writ petition. The impugned order was not quashed.

NC: 2026:KHC:8002 WP No. 32855 of 2025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE CHILLAKUR SUMALATHA WRIT PETITION NO.32855 OF 2025 (GM-FC)

BETWEEN:

JAYANTHA, S/O GOVINDA, AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, RESIDING AT No.1-572, DIVYA NIVAS, MALLIGE ANGADI, NADUGODU VILLAGE, MANGALORE TALUK - 575148,

PRESENTLY RESIDING AT : Digitally signed by SOWMYA OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO, AFRICA. DODDAMARAIAH REPRESENTED BY POWER OF ATTORNEY HOLDER Location: HIGH COURT OF PRASHANTH SUVARNA, KARNATAKA S/O SHEKAR POOJARY, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, R/AT KAVOOR AKASHABHAVANA, MANGALORE-575 020. …PETITIONER

(BY SRI. K.SHRIHARI, ADVOCATE)

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AND:

MANASA R., W/O JAYANTHA, AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, RESIDING AT 3-44(1), POORLIPADY HOUSE, BALTHILA VILLAGE, KALLADKA, BANTWAL TALUK-574253

…RESPONDENT

(BY SRI. K. SHASHIKANTH PRASAD, ADVOCATE FOR SRI.DINESH HEGDE,ADVOCATE)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASHING THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 16.09.2025 PASSED IN M.C.NO. 45/2024 BY THE I ADDL. PRINCIPAL JUDGE, FAMILY COURT, D.K. MANGALURU, PRODUCED AS ANNEXURE-A AND ETC.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING B-GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE CHILLAKUR SUMALATHA

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ORAL ORDER

Heard Sri.K.Srihari, learned counsel for the petitioner as well as Sri.Dinesh Hegde, learned counsel for the respondent.

Being aggrieved by the order of rejection of the request of the petitioner to record his cross-examination through video conference, this writ petition is filed. It is not in dispute that the petitioner resides in South Africa.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that chief affidavit in lieu of chief examination was filed before the Family Court by the petitioner. Petitioner intended to appear for cross-examination through video conference, but his request was negated by the Family Court.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner will come to India and stay in India from 15.04.2026 to 30.04.2026 and he will attend the Court and face cross-examination any day between those 15

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days and hence, the writ petition may be disposed of giving direction to the Family Court to record crossexamination during that time.

Learned counsel for the respondent submits

that respondent will cross-examine the witness on any date given.

Therefore, the writ petition is disposed of with

the following:

ORDER

(i) The Court of I Additional Principal Judge, Family Court, D.K, Mangaluru is directed to fix a date between 15.04.2026 and 30.04.2026 preferably between 16.04.2026 and 21.04.2026 for crossexamination of the petitioner by the respondent or her counsel.

(ii) Court is directed to post the matter day today

in case matter is required to be adjourned and

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see that the cross-examination is completed by

30.04.2026.

(iii) The writ petition is accordingly disposed of.

Sd/(DR.CHILLAKUR SUMALATHA) JUDGE

NS CT:TSM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 55