Skype brings face to face couple on divorce course For the first time, the Bandra family court uses Internet technology to mediate between a warring couple — woman living in Bhopal and the man in the US

Skype brings face to face couple on divorce course

For the first time, the Bandra family court uses Internet technology to mediate between a warring couple — woman living in Bhopal and the man in the US

For the first time in the history of the Bandra family court, computer technology was used to mediate between a warring couple living in different countries and separated for the last four years. On Saturday, April 28, the couple used the Skype chat service to work out an amicable solution, monitored by a trained mediator. The husband lives in the US, and the wife in Bhopal. Advocate Haresh Thacker, a former Bandra family court bar association president, who was appointed by the family court judge as mediator, said, “On Saturday, the husband’s brother came to the court with the laptop, and we initiated our first contact online. However, due to the difference in time zones, the next sitting will be at my residence, and this will help all the parties concerned.” The order for mediation was passed by the court in the first week of April, and was filed on the plea of the husband who is seeking a divorce on grounds of cruelty. Since the couple is residing in different countries, the use of technology was decided upon. The two work in IT, and were married seven years ago. In 2008, after they had been together for two years, the husband filed for divorce. Since then the petition has been pending before the family court, and the couple has been living separately. Thacker said, “It was during the hearing of the plea filed by the husband that the court saw it a case fit for mediation. Since both parties are not present, and to save time and cost, the court passed the order. Moreover, it is a hassle-free process and we are hoping the outcome will be fruitful.”