The Bombay High Court today asked tennis star Leander Paes and his estranged wife Rhea Pillai to amicably resolve their matrimonial dispute for the sake of their minor daughter.
"Ultimately both of you (Paes and Pillai) have to sit across and come up with some kind of solution amicably," Justice Revati Mohite Dere said.
On the last hearing earlier this month, the high court had met both Paes and Pillai in chambers and asked them to try to amicably resolve their dispute.
Pursuant to this, Paes' lawyer today submitted his consent terms, but Pillai and her lawyer rejected them and said they were not acceptable.
Pillai also submitted her terms, to which Paes' lawyer said he would show it to the tennis player, who is abroad for some tournaments, when he returns to India.
"Efforts that are being taken by both the parties so far need to be taken to a logical end at least for the sake of the minor child," Justice Dere said, while posting the matter for further hearing on August 22.
Pillai, who had levelled allegations against Paes and his father for harassment, had moved an application in the Family Court under sections of Domestic Violence Act. She had sought directions for not removing her from the house where she claims to be living with Paes since the last few years. She had also sought maintenance from Paes.
Paes too had filed an application in the Family Court and questioned the 'maintainability' of Pillai's plea, and had argued that she was not his 'wife' since both of them had never married.
However, after hearing both the sides, the Family Court rejected Paes' plea following which the tennis star had moved the session's court to challenge the Family Court's decision.
The sessions court had then said that "before drawing any conclusions, it is necessary to hear the evidences of both the sides".
Aggrieved by the sessions court's decision, Pillai approached the high court.
