God always has something for you: Chandigarh child’s ‘thank you’ moves SC

Satya Prakash
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 10

A 'thank you' note from a Chandigarh boy to the Supreme Court for settling all 23 cases filed by his parents against each other and granting them divorce by mutual consent moved judges, who made the hand-written note a part of their judgment. 

“God always has something for you: A KEY for every problem, A LIGHT for every shadow, A RELIEF for every sorrow and A PLAN for every tomorrow,” wrote the 10-year-old boy and handed over to court after the seven-year-old matrimonial dispute between his parents was finally resolved. 

The hand-written, colourful note by 10-year-old Tinu (name changed) displaying his great insight into life moved Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Mohan M Shantanagoudar, who termed it “rich encomium paid to the Court” by Master Tinu.

The child present in court on March 5 was exuberantly happy and sought liberty to present a handmade card expressing his joy on the settlement of all the disputes and litigations between his mother and father and the Bench readily obliged him.

The judges were so moved by the child’s gesture that they started the judgment with it and a scanned copy of the child’s hand-written 'thank you' note appeared on page one of the March 5 verdict.

The couple—who got married as per Hindu rites on May 18, 1997—had a daughter and a son and they had filed 23 civil and criminal cases against each other in district courts, Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Supreme Court.

On account of marital discord and temperamental differences, they have been living separately since March 2011 and several attempts to reach an amicable settlement failed despite the intervention of Justice Lisa Gill of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana and senior counsel Meenakshi Arora who was appointed by the top court as mediator in the case.

Having noticed that all the efforts had not been fully fruitful, the Bench asked the parties to be present before it.

“The parties have cooperated with the tireless efforts taken by this court. It is heartening to note that finally the parties have reached an amicable settlement,” the top court noted in its verdict and went on to grant them divorce by mutual consent instantly, waving the six-month statutory waiting period.

It directed the husband to transfer his share in agricultural land situated in Panchkula district in favour of his now divorced wife and two children.

Directing them to strictly abide by the terms of settlement, the Bench restrained them from instituting any fresh litigation in respect of their matrimonial dispute without its prior permission.