Tennis star Leander Paes and his estranged live-in partner Rhea PIllai, fighting for custody of their 10-year-old daughter submitted to the Supreme Court their issue. The bench of Justices Arun Misra and Amitava Roy heard their case pre-lunch and before retiring for lunch, advised the two to try and settle their case amicably.

Post-lunch the two met Justice Misra in his chamber, and though all matter discussed was not for public consumption, it was learnt that the judge had asked them to bury the hatchet and work for the good of their daughter and come to a solution by themselves.

This case has been fought from the magistrate’s court, where Paes had been indicted—Rhea had not only filed for custody, but had also alleged torture by Paes—to the Bombay High Court, where Paes was acquitted.

Technically, Pillai had approached the apex court, claiming she was in a “matrimonial relationship” with Paes and was entitled to relief under the special Domestic Violence law. The bench, on last hearing, had asked the parties to try and settle the dispute amicably and had directed them to appear on April 10.

—By India Legal Bureau