My wife filed for divorce about 2 months back on the grounds of cruelty. Notices were sent to me in USA and didn't get served. Notices were also sent to my father's home in India and got returned as undelivered.
Now, last week on the very first date, the Judge ordered for ex-parte proceedings citing that the respondent was not present. The next date is set for evidence.
My questions are
1) Can my father represent me with a power of attorney and ask the judge to allow us to contest this divorce now and set aside the ex-parte order? If yes then what would be the procedure?
My father's lawyer is however saying that in the state of Madhya Pradesh you cannot contest a divorce with a POA. I need to be present there personally.
I cannot come right now because of my job and the pending 498a case in India
2) My wife is asking for a one time alimony of 60Lakh rupees. If the case goes ex-parte then roughly how much alimony will the Judge award her? This is a short marriage and we lived together for only one year
3) If she gets an ex-parte decree then what options will I have? I read somewhere that after ex-parte decree I would lose my right to produce evidence and put forth my point of view and the only recourse I'll have left is to challenge the order on legal grounds
Thanks
Raj
