Is a respondent’s physical presence in court truly necessary during cross-examination of the petitioner? The case has been stalled for over 3 months due to the respondent’s absence, with only their lawyer appearing. Could this be a tactic to delay proceedings?

While a respondent’s physical presence isn’t mandatory during cross-examination under Indian law, their lawyer can only answer questions based on available evidence. Continued absence without justifiable reasons could be construed as a delay tactic, potentially impacting the case. The court may consider this while deciding on further proceedings.