MUMBAI, 29 JAN

 The Bombay High Court has asked a couple to try and resolve their dispute amicably before it decides on a petition filed by the woman seeking to terminate her 20-week pregnancy on account of matrimonial problems.

A division bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Pravin Patil in the order passed on 27 January said the dispute between the couple was not major and could be resolved amicably. The court directed the husband and wife to meet on the Pune magistrate court premises for three days and attempt to sort out their issues.

Lawyers on both the sides shall encourage them to seek reconciliation so that a "congenial atmosphere could be created,” the judges said, adding that it would be their first child.

The woman approached the court earlier this month seeking to terminate her pregnancy, citing her strained relations with the husband. The woman claimed the husband said that he never wanted to marry her because he was in love with someone else and that the foetus was not his. The woman further alleged that he said he would not accept paternity of the child. The man admitted to a dispute but denied all other allegations.

 The judges noted that both possess enough maturity to understand each other and resolve their problems.

 "The wife has stated that if her husband was willing to take good care of the child and treat her properly then she has no reason to seek a medical termination of the pregnancy," the HC said in the order. The judges noted that apart from trifle misunderstandings, there were no major problems between the couple.