Salam (N) Irungbam (O) Gitarani @ Gita vs Irungbam Ibomcha Singh

M. Sundar, CJ

[1] This judgment/order will now dispose of captioned main appeal and captioned 'Miscellaneous Case '('MC' for the sake of brevity and convenience) thereat.

[2] This judgment/order is to be read in conjunction with and in continuation of earlier proceedings made by this Court in the listing on 10.10.2025 which reads as follows:

'10.10.2025

[1] Mr. S. Samungou, learned counsel for appellant and Mr. L. Seityandra, learned counsel for sole respondent are before this Court.

[2] A suit for divorce by the husband being Mat.(Div) SuitNo.23 of2018 on the file of Family Court, Imphal East was decreed by judgment dated 28.01.2020. This suit shall be referred to as 'said Matrimonial Suit' and the Court which made the judgment shall be referred to as the 'said Family Court', both are for the sake of convenience and clarity.

[3] The said Family Court interestingly and intriguingly while having made the judgment dated 28.01.2020 has made a decree dated 31.01.2020. This prima facie appears to be plainly incorrect. This aspect of the matter will be examined in an appropriate manner later.

[4] Be that as it may, wife who suffered the afore-referred decree is on appeal before us vide captioned statutory appeal under Section 19 of Family CourtsAct,1984.

[5] Mr. S. Samungou, learned counsel for appellant/ wife is before us in the physical Court and Mr. L. Seityandra, learned counsel for respondent No.1/husband is on the VC platform. Both the learned counsel, on instructions of the irrespective clients, submitted that elements of settlement exist and therefore it would be desirable to refer the matter to Mediation.

[6] Afore-referred common/joint request acceded to.

[7] Registry is directed to list the matter before the Mediation Center under the aegis of Manipur High Court on 17.10.2025 at 02:00 p.m.

[8] Both the learned counsel before us submit that their respective clients would appear before Mediation Center under the aegis of Manipur High Court without insisting on separate hearing of this.

[9] We request the Mediation Center to enter upon Mediation and send a report to this Court as expeditiously as possible.

[10] List under the caption 'For Mediation Report' 4(four) weeks hence.

[11] Liston 14.11.2025.'

[3] Today, Mr. S. Samungou, learned counsel representing learned counsel on record for appellant and Mr. L. Seityandra, learned counsel on record for sole respondent are before this Court (Physical Court).

[4] Pursuant to aforementioned proceedings, parties went for mediation, mediation was successful and captioned matter will now stand disposed of in terms of settlement arrived at in the mediation. Before we write disposal / operative part of this judgment/order, we deem it appropriate to set out two points pertaining to afore mentioned 10.10.2025 proceedings and two points are as follows:

(i) in the afore-referred proceedings dated 10.10.2025 in paragraph 1, there is a reference to 'respondent No. 1'. This is incorrect as there is only one respondent in the captioned appeal and captioned MC thereat, therefore, respondent No. 1 will now read as 'sole respondent'. This correction has now been carried out in the 10.10.2025 proceedings with the consent of afore-referred both learned counsel before this Court and on being uploaded this order will now serve as corrigendum/errata in this regard qua afore-referred 10.10.2025 proceedings;

(ii) in paragraph 3 of 10.10.2025 proceedings, this Court has written that the question of judgment being dated 28.01.2020 and decree being of another date i.e., 31.01.2020 will be gone into in an appropriate manner. In the light of successful mediation and as it does not affect the settlement arrived at in mediation, this question is left open for being considered in another matter where need arises.

[5] Reverting to mediation, under cover of letter dated 06.04.2026 bearing reference No. HCLSC/Med/2-2024/232, Secretary, High Court Legal Services Committee, High Court of Manipur (HCLSC) has sent to the Registry of this Court the settlement agreement in which terms of settlement arrived at in mediation have been reduced to writing, making it clear that mediation was successful.

[6] Mr. S. Samungou, learned counsel for appellant and Mr. L. Seityandra, learned counsel for lone respondent on both sides confirmed that the mediation was successful and the terms of settlement have been reduced to writing vide a document captioned 'settlement agreement dated 04.04.2026' (hereinafter 'said settlement agreement' for the sake of convenience and clarity).

[7] Both afore-referred learned counsel make a common/joint request to this Court to give a closure to the captioned main appeal and captioned MC thereat by disposing of the same in terms of the said settlement agreement.

[8] Scanned reproduction of afore-referred cover letter dated 06.04.2026 and said settlement agreement dated 04.04.2026 are as follows:

[9] In the light of narrative thus far, captioned main appeal and captioned MC thereat are disposed of in terms of the afore-referred settlement agreement which shall now form a part of this judgment/order. There shall be no order as to costs.