African Gray Parrot Delays Divorce Proceedings in Pune
Pune, 21st December 2023: In a peculiar turn of events, a divorce proceeding in Pune faced an unexpected delay, not due to typical disagreements over children or maintenance but rather a feathered friend— an African gray parrot.
The case, which initially seemed straightforward, took an unusual turn as the husband and wife, who had opted for mutual consent in their divorce, found themselves at an impasse over the custody of a parrot gifted by the husband before their marriage.
Lawyer Bhagyashree Subhash Gujar, representing the husband in the case, revealed the unique details. “The husband had presented his wife with an African gray parrot before their wedding. Despite the passage of time, the couple’s differences escalated, leading them to file for divorce.”
The couple, married on December 11, 2019, in Pune, encountered irreconcilable differences by September 2021. The wife initiated divorce proceedings in December 2022, marking the culmination of their two-year marriage. However, the plot thickened during counseling sessions.
Gujar explained, “Upon realizing that reconciliation was not on the horizon, the decision to divorce was reached amicably. While the wife did not seek alimony, a surprising demand surfaced from the husband—he wanted the return of the African gray parrot he had gifted pre-marriage.”
The husband’s insistence on the parrot’s return became a stumbling block, disrupting the divorce process temporarily. The wife, initially resistant, eventually agreed to relinquish the cherished bird after further counseling sessions.
“After resolving the parrot custody dispute, the divorce was granted,” confirmed Gujar, bringing an end to this distinctive chapter in legal proceedings.
The case highlights the unexpected intricacies that can arise in divorce cases, turning what seemed like a routine separation into an avian-induced dilemma.
