NO #double #maintenance under Sec #24HMA and Sec #18HAMA, #BombayHC

discussing the provisions of various enactments providing maintenance, the Honourable Bombay HC concludes that “…. 7. We, however, make it clear that, once the interim maintenance is granted either under section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act or under section 18 of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, then, there is no question of entertaining the application under the other Act. This would avoid multiplicity of proceedings, because the criteria for awarding maintenance under both the provisions would be the same…..”

This is very useful for husbands fighting multiple maintenance claims by women

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Bombay High Court
Sangeeta Piyush Raj vs Piyush Chaturbhuj Raj on 13 January, 1998
Equivalent citations: 1998 (3) BomCR 207, II (1998) DMC 443
Author: M Shah
Bench: M S C.J., R Kochar
ORDER M.B. Shah, C.J.

1. 1. After considering the various decisions cited at the hearing of the Notice of Motion, by order dated 17th January, 1997, Variava, J., referred to the Division Bench the following two questions for determination:–
   1. “1. Whether in proceedings under section 18 of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, the Court can grant interim maintenance?
   2. 2. Whether if matrimonial proceedings are pending between the parties then an application for interim maintenance must be made only to the Family Court under the provisions of section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act?”
2. 2. With regard to the first question, after considering the various decisions, the Division Bench of this Court (V.P. Tipnis & Mrs. R.R Desai, JJ.) by judgment and order dated (16th and 17th December, 1997 in Appeal No. 14 of 1997) has arrived at the conclusion that, in a suit filed under section 18 of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, the Court has jurisdiction and power to pass appropriate interim and ad-interim orders. We agree with the said conclusion.
3. 3. Further, it is to be noted that the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 codifies the law relating to adoptions and maintenance among Hindus. It only declares and codifies the law with regard to adoptions and maintenance by Hindus. The basis of such obligation to maintain wives, widowed daughter-in-law, children and aged parents may be a pious obligation of Hindus. The provisions relating to maintenance are in Chapter III. Section 18 deals with maintenance of a wife during her life time under certain circumstances, as provided in sub-section (2) thereof. Section 19 provides for maintenance of a widowed daughter-in-law to the extent that she is unable to maintain herself out of her own earnings or other property by her father-in-law. Similarly, section 20 provides for maintenance of his or her legitimate or illegitimate children and his or her aged or infirm parents. The liability to pay maintenance to children is on the father or mother. Similarly, liability to pay maintenance to infirm parents is on the son or the daughter. Section 22 further provides that the heirs of a deceased Hindu are bound to maintain the defendants of the deceased (as defined in section 21) out of the estate inherited by them from the deceased. Section 23 provides for the objective criteria for determining the amount of maintenance. Further, the requirement is that no person shall be entitled to claim maintenance if she or he has ceased to be a Hindu by conversion to any other religion (section 24). Section 25 empowers the alteration of the amount of maintenance on change of circumstances justifying such alteration. Further, the proceedings initiated for getting maintenance would be under the Civil Procedure Code. Hence, there is no reason why inherent jurisdiction of the Court cannot be exercised for providing interim maintenance. If a deserted wife, widowed daughter-in-law, minor children and aged parents are not provided with interim maintenance, it would cause lot of hardship for a long period. The entire purpose of the enactment would be defeated because of the proverbial delays in disposal of cases resulting in grave hardship to the applicants who may have no means to survive until final decree is passed. There is no provision under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act or under the Civil Procedure Code that interim maintenance cannot be granted; there is no provision under the said Act which would meet the necessities of the case in question. Therefore, for doing real and substantial justice, Court can exercise power under section 151 of the Civil Procedure Code for grant of interim maintenance. It would also prevent abuse of the process of the Court.
4. 4. Even in proceedings under section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, in the case of Savitri v. Govind Singh Rawat, 1986 Cri. L.J. 411, the Court held as under :–
   • “Having regard to the nature of the jurisdiction exercised by a Magistrate under section 125 of the Code, we feel that the said provisions should be interpreted as conferring power by necessary implication on the Magistrate to pass an order directing a person against whom an application is made under it to pay a reasonable sum by way of interim maintenance, subject to the other conditions referred to, pending final disposal of the application. In taking this view we have also taken note of the provisions of section 7(2)(a) of the Family Courts Act, 1984 (Act No. 66 of 1984) passed recently by Parliament proposing to transfer the jurisdiction exercisable by Magistrates under section 125 of the Code to the Family Courts constituted under the said Act.”
   • For arriving at the above conclusion, the Court has observed that every Court must be deemed to possess by necessary intendment all such powers as are necessary to make its orders effective. The Court further observed that whenever anything is required to be done by law and it is found impossible to do that thing unless something not authorised in express terms be also done, then that something else will be supplied by necessary intendment. In a civil suit filed for maintenance on the basis of the law applicable under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, such power is required to be exercised. In our view, there is no reason not to apply the ratio laid down by the Supreme Court in Savitri’s case (supra) to the question involved in the present case.
5. 5. Re: The Second Question :
   • In our view, even if matrimonial proceedings are pending between the parties, it is not the requirement that the application for interim maintenance must be made only to the Family Court under the provisions of section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act. Once we arrive at the conclusion that an application under section 18 of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act is maintainable during the pendency of proceedings under the Hindu Marriage Act, then, obviously, the result would be that the application (or interim maintenance could be filed before the Court dealing with the right arising under provisions of section 18 of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act.
6. 6. With regard to the provisions of section 18 of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act and provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, the Apex Court, in the case of Chand Dhawan v. Jawaharlal Dhawari, 1993(3) Supreme Court Cases 4061, has held that, without affection or disruption of the marital status, a Hindu wife sustaining that status can live in separation from her husband, and whether she is living in that state or not, her claim to maintenance stands preserved in codification under section 18(1) of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act. She may also be entitled to relief under section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure; but this is an alternative measure. The Court clarified that, in a petition under the Hindu Marriage Act, the Court is empowered to grant interim maintenance; but, in those cases where the marital status is to be affected or disrupted, then the Court would pass orders for maintenance. In other cases, the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act would be applicable. Hence, in our view, even if matrimonial proceedings are pending between the parties in the Family Court, it is not necessary that for getting interim maintenance, an application must be made to the said Court under the provisions of section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act.
7. 7. We, however, make it clear that, once the interim maintenance is granted either under section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act or under section 18 of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, then, there is no question of entertaining the application under the other Act. This would avoid multiplicity of proceedings, because the criteria for awarding maintenance under both the provisions would be the same.
8. 8. Reference stands disposed of accordingly.

 

https://twitter.com/ATMwithDick/status/1015132751459241985

2x maintenance will NOT be justice, equity & good conscience. S 24 & S 125 amounts to be adjusted. Cal HC

“…If, on the other hand, the husband petitioner’s plea of adjustment be negatived only on the ground that the order under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act is a temporary order ….. it would virtually mean saddling the husband-petitioner with a liability to comply with both the orders and make the double payment of maintenance allowance, irrespective of the question other actual requirements of her maintenance. I am afraid, such a course would not be in consonance with the fundamental concept of justice, equity and good conscience.

“…The mere fact that the order under Section 24 is temporary cannot thus constitute a good ground for making claim for adjustment inadmissible if it is otherwise admissible for the purpose. Adjustment cannot, however, be allowed as a matter of course. Whether such a plea would be admissible would depend upon facts and circumstances of each particular case…..”

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Calcutta High Court

Sailendra Nath Ghosh vs State Of West Bengal And Anr. on 14 August, 1997

Equivalent citations: 1998 (1) ALT Cri 17, I (1998) DMC 487

Author: D B Dutta
Bench: D B Dutta

JUDGMENT Dibyendu Bhusan Dutta, J.

1. The instant application under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code is directed against the order dated 30.11.96 passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate, Seventh Court, Uluberia in Misc. Case No. 42 of 1995.

2. The said case arose out of an application filed by the opposite party No. 1, Anita Ghosh under Section 125, Cr.P.C. The petitioner is her husband. Their marriage was solemnised according to Hindu rites and customs on 18.2.92. After the marriage, they lived together in the matrimonial home for some time. The opposite party No. 2 being infertile was undergoing medical treatment. There was no issue born out of their marriage. The opposite party No. 2 abandoned her matrimonial home on 30.10.94. The petitioner filed a matrimonial suit for divorce against the opposite party No. 2, being Mat. Suit No. 321 of 1994 in Second Court of Additional District Judge, Hooghly. The opposite party No. 2 lodged a complaint on 25.1.95 in Chandernagore Court alleging matrimonial cruelty against the petitioner. The opposite party No. 2 filed an application under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code praying for maintenance allowance against the petitioner in the Court of Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Uluberia. Both the matrimonial suit and the complaint case are pending. In the matrimonial suit, the opposite party No. 2 had obtained an order being order No. 17 dated 8.7.96 directing the petitioner to pay alimony pendente lite at the rate of Rs. 700/- per month as well as litigation cost of Rs. 1500/- to the opposite party No. 2 and the petitioner has been paying the alimony pendente lite in terms of that order. During the trial of that case under Section 125, Cr.P.C., the petitioner gave evidence in support of the payment of alimony at the rate of Rs. 700/- per month to the opposite party No. 2. But the learned Magistrate by his impugned judgment and order disposed of the case under Section 125, Cr.P.C. awarding maintenance allowance at the rate of Rs. 800/- in favour of the opposite party No. 2 without, however, considering the fact that the opposite party No. 2 was already receiving a sum of Rs. 700/- towards alimony pendente lite by virtue of the order passed in the matrimonial suit, as a result of which, the opposite party No. 2 is getting maintenance allowance from the petitioner twice a month.

3. Mr. A. Goswami, the learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner contended that the learned Magistrate ought to have made provision in the impugned order for adjustment of Rs. 700 /-, the amount which the opposite party No. 2 is getting by way of maintenance pendente lite in terms of order dated 8.7.96 passed in the matrimonial suit against the amount of Rs. 800/- which he awarded in her favour towards her maintenance allowance. If this adjustment is not allowed, the petitioner will be unjustly saddled with a liability to make payment of maintenance allowance to the opposite party No. 2 twice a month. Accordingly, Mr. Goswami wants this Court to modify the impugned order by making provision for adjustment of the maintenance pendente lite.

4. Mr. Goswami placed his reliance on two Single Bench decisions of our High Court. One is reported in 96 CWN 861 in the case of Gosai Ch. Das v. Beauty Das and State of W.B., and the other is a subsequent unreported decision dated 16.6.96 in Criminal Revision No. 2504 of 1995 in the case of Manoj Kr. Chowdhury v. Jharna Chowdhury.

5. Mr. Amit Talukdar, appearing for the opposite party No. 2, sought to resist the claim for adjustment. He argued that the two proceedings, namely the proceeding under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act and the proceeding under Section 125, Cr.P.C. are two different proceedings. The order granting maintenance pendente lite in the matrimonial suit is not a final determination so as to be entitled to any serious weight in the proceeding under Section 125, Cr.P.C. The mere fact that the opposite party No. 2 is receiving maintenance pendente lite from the Matrimonial Court cannot disentitle her to the order of maintenance allowance from the Magisterial Court under Section 125, Cr.P.C. Mr. Talukdar also submits that the two decisions cited on behalf of the petitioner must be construed as per inquirium inasmuch as the Supreme Court decision in the case of Ramesh Chander v. Veena Kaushal, reported in 1979 Cr.L.J. 3 corresponding to has not been considered or referred to in the said two decisions and as such, the said two decisions will be of no avail to the petitioner in claiming adjustment. Mr. Talukdar relies on the aforesaid Supreme Court decision as well as the decision of Andhra Pradesh High Court reported in 1996 Cr.L.J. 2284, T. Rajender Singh v. Maya Devi.

6. In the Supreme Court case of Ramesh Chander (supra), the husband sought divorce through the Civil Court and the wife claimed maintenance through the Criminal Court. As an interim measure, the District Court awarded maintenance and the High Court fixed the rate at Rs. 400/- per month. Meanwhile, the Magistrate, on the evidence before him, ordered ex-parte, monthly maintenance at the rate of Rs. 1,000/- for the wife and her two children together. Two points were urged before the Supreme Court on behalf of the husband. First, the Civil Court’s determination of the quantum is entitled to serious weight and the Criminal Court in its summary decision fell into an error in ignoring the former. The second point that was urged was that the awardable maximum for the wife and children as a whole under Section 125 of the Code was Rs. 500/- having regard to the text of the Section.

7. The Supreme Court virtually answered the first point only at paragraphs 6 and ^ thus: “Broadly stated and as an abstract proposition, it is valid to assert that a final determination of a civil right by a Civil Court must prevail against a like decision by a Criminal Court. But here two factors make the principle inapplicable. Firstly, the direction by the Civil Court is not a final determination under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act but an order pendente lite under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act to pay the expenses of the proceeding, and monthly during the proceeding such sum as, having regard to the petitioner’s own income and the income of the respondent, it may seem to the Court to be reasonable. Secondly, this amount does not include the claim for maintenance of the children although the order does advert to the fact that the respondent has their custody. This incidental direction is no comprehensive adjudication. Therefore, barring marginal relevance for the Magistrate it does not bar his jurisdiction to award a higher maintenance. We cannot, therefore, fault the Magistrate for giving Rs. 100/- on this score”.

8. The Supreme Court appears to have dealt with the second point in die remaining paragraphs of the reported judgment. While dealing with the question of awardable maximum under Section 125 and interpreting the meaning of expression “in the whole” appearing in that Section, the Supreme Court made the following observations : “This provision of Section 125, Cr.P.C. is a measure of social justice and specially enacted to protect women and children and falls within the constitutional sweep of Article 15(3) reinforced by Article 39. It also observed that the brooding presence of the constitutional empathy for the weaker sections like women and children must inform interpretation if it had to have social relevance. So viewed, it is possible to be selective in picking out that interpretation out of two alternatives which advances the cause – the cause of the derelicts”.

9. In our case, we are not concerned with any such interpretation. No question had really arisen in the Supreme Court case as to whether the husband was entitled to any adjustment of the amount of maintenance allowance life awarded by the Matrimonial Court against the maintenance allowance awarded by the Criminal Court under Section 125, Cr.P.C. The Supreme Court enunciated the abstract principle that a final determination of a civil right by a Civil Court must prevail against a like decision by the Criminal Court. But the Supreme Court made that principle inapplicable to that case for two reasons. One is that the direction by the Matrimonial Court was only an order pendente lite under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act to pay not only maintenance but also the expenses of the proceeding and was not a final determination under me Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act. The second reason that weighed with the Apex Court in making the principle inapplicable was that the amount awarded by the Matrimonial Court did not include the claim for maintenance of the children . In our case, the order that was passed under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act directed the payment of Rs. 700/ – exclusively towards maintenance allowance which did not include any expense of the proceeding since the said order directed the payment of a separate amount towards the expenses of the proceeding. Moreover, the sum of Rs. 700/- awarded by way of maintenance was meant for maintenance of the Opposite party- wife alone and not of any other children since it is admitted that there was no issue born out of the marriage between the petitioner and the opposite party No. 2. It is with reference to the facts of the case of Ramesh Chandra (supra), that the Supreme Court did not fault the Magistrate for giving lis. 1,000/- towards monthly maintenance for the wife and two children together holding inter alia that the order under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act did not bar the jurisdiction of the Magistrate to award a higher maintenance, put it must be pointed put here that the Apex Court while making the observation at paragraph 7 did not categorically hold that the order under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act was totally irrelevant vis-a-vis the order under Section 125, Cr.P.C. It is significant to note here that the Apex Court used the expressions “barring marginal relevance for the Magistrate” at para graphs 7 of the reported judgment. It suggests that the Apex Court did consider the order under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act to be of some relevance for the Magistrate, however, marginal it might be, while he exercises his jurisdiction to award maintenance under Section 125, Cr.P.C.

10. In our case, the husband petitioner has not at all challenged the jurisdiction of the Magistrate in awarding a higher maintenance of Rs. 800/- as against the lower amount of Rs. 700/- awarded pendente lite under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act. In Ramesh Chancier’s case (supra), no question of any adjustment of maintenance pendente Ute under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act against the maintenance awarded under Section 125 of Cr.P.C. was specially raised or fell for consideration by the Apex Court nor did the Apex Court hold in that decision that the order under Section 24 was not relevant for claiming adjustment against the maintenance to be awarded under Section 125. In my view, the decision in Ramesh Chander’s case (supra) is not an authority for the proposition that the plea of adjustment is not at all entertainable by the Magistrate while he awards maintenance under Section 125, Cr.P.C. That being so, the two decisions cited by Mr. Goswami cannot be categorised as per inquirium merely because of the fact that the Supreme Court decision in case of Ramesh Chander (supra) was not considered therein.

11. In Gossai Ch. Das v. Beauty Das (supra) , it was contended in the revisional application filed before the High Court that the wife’s application under Section 125, Cr.P.C. was not maintainable since an application under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act was pending before the Matrimonial Court concerned and that pending the disposal of the application under Section 24, the proceeding under Section 125 should remain stayed. Justice J.N. Hore, as his Lordship then was, held that a proceeding under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is an independent proceeding unaffected by the provisions of Sections 24 and 25 of the Hindu Marriage Act, and Sections 18 and 20 of the Hindu Adoption and Main tenance Act, 1956 and that it cannot be held that an application under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is not maintainable simply became an order of alimony pendente lite has been passed under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 in a matrimonial proceeding between the parties, and that there is also no question of staying the proceeding under Section 125 of the said Code fill the disposal of the matrimonial suit. But his Lordship, at the same time, held that the amount paid as alimony pendente lite in the matrimonial suit by the husband to the wife may he adjusted against the maintenance payable under Section 125 and accordingly directed suitable modification of the Magistrate’s order under Section 125, Cr.P.C.

12. In the unreported decision of our High Court in connection with the criminal revision NO. 2504 of 1995, cited by Mr. Goswami, it was urged on behalf of the revisionist husband that the Magistrate did not consider the interim maintenance which was granted to the wife in the matrimonial suit and has, accordingly, committed an error and his lordship, while dealing with the question of quantum of maintenance allowance, was of the view that the amount awarded by the Magistrate was liable to be reduced in view of the maintenance pendente lite granted in favour of the wife in the matrimonial suit, so long the order of maintenance pendente life in favour of the wife remained in force and allowed the husband’s plea of adjustment with liberty to the wife to make suitable application before the appropriate Court for modification of the quantum of maintenance, in the event of any change in the quantum of maintenance in the matrimonial suit or of the disposal of the suit itself.

13. It may be useful here to refer to a Division Bench decision of our High Court presided over by A.M. Bhattacharjee, J. as his Lordship then was, , Geeta Chatterjee v. Probhat Kr. Chatterjee. The respondent-wife in the appeal before the High Court filed an application under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act for maintenance pendente lite and expenses of the appeal against the appellant-husband. In the Court below, the husband did not contest the wife’s application for maintenance pendente lite and the Court passed an order directing the husband to pay to the wife Rs. 350/- as maintenance during the trial. Before the High Court in the appeal, however, the application by the wife for maintenance pendente lite and also for expenses for the appeal was seriously opposed by the husband-appellant on the ground that he has come to learn that the wife owns valuable lands in Calcutta and could not be regarded as one who “has no independent income sufficient for her support” within the meaning of Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act so as to be entitled to invoke that Section. The question arose as to whether in ordering maintenance pendente lite under Section 24, the Court shall have regard only to the income of the applicant and not to her or his asset or property. The High Court answered the question in the affirmative. It was of the view that the amount of Rs. 350/- ordered by the Court below, was quite reasonable. The High Court was also of the view that the husband should pay to the wife a sum of Rs. 500/- as expenses of the proceedings before the High Court. It was brought to the notice of the High Court during the hearing of the appeal that the wife obtained an order in her favour under Section 125 from the Criminal Court directing the husband to pay the wife Rs. 200/- per month and the High Court allowed the adjustment of the said sum of Rs. 200/- against the sum of Rs. 350/-. It directed the husband to pay to the wife a sum of Rs. 350/- after deducting therefrom the amount that he would be paying m compliance with the order of the Criminal Court. It is thus clear that the Division Bench allowed adjustment of the lower amount (Rs. 200/-) awarded by the Magistrate against the higher amount (Rs. 350/-) awarded by the Matrimonial Court.

14. Reference may also be made to two other decisions of the Allahabad High Court on this point. They are reported in I (1985) DMC 175; Puspa Devi v. Anup Singh and I (1990) DMC 38, Khem Chand v. State.

15. In I (1985) DMC 175 (supra), the wife filed an application before the Judicial Magistrate under Section 125, Cr.P-C. for maintenance allowance. During the Course of that proceeding, the husband filed an objection on the ground that in a divorce proceeding between the parties the wife was already getting monthly allowance. The Magistrate rejected the application of the opposite party-husband. Aggrieved by the order of the Magistrate, the husband filed an application before the Sessions Judge. The Sessions Judge dismissed the application under Section 125 on the ground that the applicant is already getting maintenance allowance in the divorce proceeding under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act. Aggrieved by this order of dismissal, the wife came up in the revision before the High Court and it was contended on behalf of the applicant- wife that the allowance awarded under Section 24 is for a temporary period during the pendency of a divorce case and that the said allowance cannot be considered to be the maintenance allowance inasmuch as it covers the part of the expenses. The High Court observed that the proceeding under Section 125, Cr.P.C. and Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act are quite independent proceedings and the maintenance allowance under Section 24 is for a temporary period and that the order under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, cannot override the order of Section 125, Cr.P.C, But, at the same time, the High Court was of the view that the Magistrate while passing an order under Section 125 may give such direction so that the amount awarded by the Civil Court under Section 24 may be adjusted during such ‘period for which the order directing maintenance allowance under Section 24 subsists. Accordingly, the case was sent back to the Court of trial Magistrate for rehearing with the direction to give due weight to the order passed under Section 24, as indicated above.

16. In the later decision of the Allahabad High Court in Khem Chand v. State and Anr. (supra), the High Court was hearing a revision by the husband directed against an order granting maintenance allowance to the wife under Section 125, Cr.P.C. and it was contended on behalf of the husband that he has already filed a petition for divorce and in that divorce proceeding, he has been directed to pay maintenance to the wife. The High Court directed adjustment of the amount paid towards maintenance in the matrimonial proceeding against the maintenance payable under Section 125, Cr.P.C. The Court held that double payment of maintenance is not intended by law and that if any money has been deposited towards the payment of maintenance in the divorce proceeding the same was liable to be adjusted in the payment of maintenance ordered under Section 125, Cr.P.C.

17. In the Andhra Pradesh High Court decision in T. Rajender Singh v. Maya Devi, reported in 1996 Cr.L.J. 2384, which was cited by Mr. Talukdar, it was held that during the operation of the order of interim maintenance under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, the maintenance granted by the Criminal Court under Section 125, Cr.P.C. shall also continue to be paid and that both the orders of matrimonial Court and Criminal Court are required to be complied with till the final decision is rendered by the Civil Court and that it is only after the rights of the parties are finally decided, that the party can approach the Criminal Court under Section 127 of the Cr.P.C. for cancellation or variation of the order under Section 125. The question whether or not any adjustment between the two amounts-one awarded under Section 24 by the Matrimonial Court and the other awarded under Section 125 by the Criminal Court – would be permissible does not appear to have been specifically raised nor considered in the said decision and as such, this decision will not be of much avail to the opposite party on the question of admissibility of the p lea of adjustment which is confronting us in the present case.

18. Thus, following the three decisions of our High Court referred to above, namely, Geeta Chatterjee v. Probhat Chatterjee, (supra); Gossai Ch. Das v. Beauty Das (supra) and the unreported decision in the case of Manoj Chowdhury v. Jharna Chowdhury as well as the two decisions of the Allahabad High Court reported in Puspa Devi v. Ann? Singh (supra), and Khem Chand v. State (supra), it can be safely held that the plea of adjustment is quite maintainable and the Supreme Court decision in Ramesh Chancier (supra) does not, in my opinion, militate against this view.

19. The matter can also be looked at from another angle. Obviously, the object of Section 125 is meant to achieve a social purpose. The object is to prevent vagrancy and destitution and also to provide quick and summary remedy to a class of persons who are unable to maintain themselves. It is true that this is a measure of social justice and specially enacted to protect women and children and falls within the constitutional sweep of Article 15(3) reinforced by Article 39 of the Constitution, as observed by the Supreme Court in the Ramesh Chander’s case (supra). But then, Section 125, Cr.P.C. can be invoked by a wife only when she is unable to maintain herself. The expression “unable to maintain” connotes that the wife, has no other means or source to maintain herself. Inability on the part of the wife to maintain herself is undoubtedly a sine qua non for the grant of maintenance allowance under Section 125, Cr.P.C. If a particular wife has some other means or source sufficient to maintain herself, there would be no point in awarding any further allowance in her favour so long such means and source continues to subsist. In the instant case, the wife has already obtained an order from the Matrimonial Court directing the husband to make payment of Rs. 700/- per month towards her own maintenance pendente lite under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act and another order (the impugned order) from the Magistrate’s Court under Section 125, Cr.P.C. directing payment of a sum of Rs. 800/- per month by the husband towards her maintenance. It has not be contended on behalf of the wife-opposite party that the amount of Rs. 800/- that has been awarded by the Magistrate under Section 125, Cr.P.C. by the impugned order is not at all sufficient to meet the requirements of her maintenance according to her standard of life. She has not assailed the impugned order of the Magistrate with regard to the quantum of allowance that has been awarded by the impugned order. We can, therefore, take it for granted that, for the present, a sum of Rs. 800/- would be sufficient for her maintenance per month. Viewed from this angle, allowing the plea of adjustment, in such a case, would not in my opinion, militate against the object of Section 125, Cr.P.C. If, on the other hand, the husband petitioner’s plea of adjustment be negatived only on the ground that the order under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act is a temporary order and not a final determination of the exact quantum to which the wife would be entitled as of right towards her maintenance allowance or on the ground that the Magistrate’s jurisdiction to grant maintenance allowance under Section 125 remains unaffected by the order under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, it would virtually mean saddling the husband-petitioner with a liability to comply with both the orders and make the double payment of maintenance allowance, irrespective of the question other actual requirements of her maintenance. I am afraid, such a course would not be in consonance with the fundamental concept of justice, equity and good conscience. The order under Section 24 may be temporary and not a final determination and it is true that if an order for permanent alimony is made under Section 125, it will automatically supersede the alimony pendente lite. But, if the amount of maintenance pendente life is discernible from the order under Section 24 and if the said amount is paid by the husband there is no reason for disallowing adjustment of such payments against the amount awarded under Section 125, even if the latter amount is quite sufficient for the wife’s maintenance. If such payment is temporary, the adjustment will also be temporary and will continue to be made as long as the payment would be made. The mere fact that the order under Section 24 is temporary cannot thus constitute a good ground for making claim for adjustment inadmissible if it is otherwise admissible for the purpose. Adjustment cannot, however, be allowed as a matter of course. Whether such a plea would be admissible would depend upon facts and circumstances of each particular case.

20. Thus, having regard to the facts and circumstances of this case, I am inclined to hold that the amount paid by the petitioner-husband to the opposite party-wife towards her maintenance in pursuance of the order passed by the Matrimonial Court under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act is liable to be adjusted against the amount payable under Section 125 of Cr.P.C. towards her maintenance.

21. In such view of the matter, the impugned order is liable to be made subject to the modification to the effect that the amount paid as alimony pendente lite in the matrimonial suit by the petitioner-husband to the opposite party No. 2 be adjusted against the maintenance payable under the impugned order. In the result, the revisional application succeeds and is hereby allowed subject to the modification of the impugned order as directed above.

Increasing Interim maint without evidence, material for enhancement is unjustified – Supreme court

Increasing Interim maintenance without proper evidence of husband’s income, without material for enhancement is unjustified. HC Order Set aside by Supreme court of India

In this case, Husband filed RCR, filed file for maintenance u/s 24 HMA and District judge ordered 750/- p.m. as maintenance. Wife appeals to HC who increase it to 5000/- p.m. Husband appeals to SC and SC orders as follows “…even though respondent (wife) did not produce any evidence about income of appellant (husband), High Court enhanced the interim maintenance by assuming appellant’s income is Rs.15,000/- per month. …. could not show that there was any material for enhancing the maintenance. Therefore, we hold that the High Court was not justified in enhancing .. maintenance…..”

Classic case that can be quoted IF your wife does NOT have proper proof or reasons to get an enhacement

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Supreme Court of India

Sanjeev Gupta vs Shalini Gupta on 23 February, 2009

Bench: B.N. Agrawal, G.S. Singhvi

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO.1163 OF 2009 (Arising out of S.L.P. (C) No.16742 of 2006)

Sanjeev Gupta …Appellant(s)

Versus

Shalini Gupta …Respondent(s)

O R D E R

Leave granted.

During the pendency of H.M.A. Case No.158 of 2003 instituted by the appellant under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 [for short, `the Act’], the respondent filed an application under Section 24 of the Act for interim maintenance. By an order dated 22nd May, 2004, District Judge, Yamuna Nagar, directed the appellant herein to pay interim maintenance to the respondent at the rate of Rs.750/- per month, apart from Rs.1,100/- as litigation expenses. The respondent challenged that order by filing a petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India. By the impugned order, the High Court directed the appellant to pay Rs.5,000/- per month to the respondent as interim maintenance. The High Court also enhanced the litigation expenses from Rs.1,100/- to Rs.10,000/-. http://evinayak.tumblr.com/ ; https://vinayak.wordpress.com/ ; http://fromvinayak.blogspot.com

We have heard learned counsel for the parties. A reading of the order under challenge shows that even though the respondent did not produce any evidence about the income of the appellant, the High Court enhanced the interim maintenance by assuming the appellant’s income is Rs.15,000/- per month. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent could not show that there was any material for enhancing the maintenance. Therefore, we hold that the High Court was not justified in enhancing the amount of maintenance.

Accordingly, the appeal is allowed and the impugned order passed by the High Court is set aside.

J. [B.N. AGRAWAL]

J. [G.S. SINGHVI]

New Delhi,

February 23, 2009.

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This judgment and other similar judgments posted on this blog was / were collected from Judis nic in website and / or other websites of Govt. of India or other internet web sites like worldlii or indiankanoon or High court websites. Some notes are made by Vinayak. Should you find the dictum in this judgment or the judgment itself repealed or amended or would like to make improvements or comments, please post a comment on the comment section of the blog and if you are reading this on tumblr please post responses as comments at vinayak.wordpress.com . Vinayak is NOT a lawyer and nothing in this blog and/or site and/or file should be considered as legal advise.

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CASE FROM JUDIS / INDIAN KANOON WEB SITE with necessary Emphasis, Re formatting

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Not only husband’s, Income & assets of wife ALSO b considered 4 INTERIM maint us 24 HMA. Delhi HC

The Hon HC says :
“………… 5. Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act goes a step further inasmuch as it permits maintenance to be claimed by the husband even against the wife.

6. While considering a claim for interim maintenance, the court has to keep in mind the status of the parties, reasonable wants of the applicant, the income and property of the applicant. Conversely, requirements of the non applicant, the income and property of the non applicant and additionally the other family members to be maintained by the non applicant have to be taken into all. Whilst it is important to insure that the maintenance awarded to the applicant is sufficient to enable the applicant to live in somewhat the same degree of comfort as in the matrimonial home, but it should not be so exorbitant that the non applicant is unable to pay…..

7. Maintenance awarded cannot be punitive. It should aid the applicant to live in a similar life style she/he enjoyed in the matrimonial home. It should not expose the non applicant to unjust contempt or other coercive proceedings. On the other hand, maintenance should not be so low so as to make the order meaningless.

8. Unfortunately, in India, parties do not truthfully reveal their income. For self employed persons or persons employed in the unorganized sector, truthful income never surfaces. Tax avoidance is the norm. Tax compliance is the exception in this country. Therefore, in determining interim maintenance, there cannot be mathematical exactitude. The court has to take a general view. ………..”

*****************************disclaimer**********************************
This judgment and other similar judgments posted on this blog was / were collected from Judis nic in website and / or other websites of Govt. of India or other internet web sites like worldlii or indiankanoon or High court websites. Some notes are made by Vinayak. Should you find the dictum in this judgment or the judgment itself repealed or amended or would like to make improvements or comments, please post a comment on the comment section of the blog and if you are reading this on tumblr please post responses as comments at vinayak.wordpress.com . Vinayak is NOT a lawyer and nothing in this blog and/or site and/or file should be considered as legal advise.
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CASE FROM JUDIS / INDIAN KANOON WEB SITE with necessary Emphasis, Re formatting
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Delhi High Court

Sh. Bharat Hegde vs Smt. Saroj Hegde on 24 April, 2007

Equivalent citations: 140 (2007) DLT 16, I (2007) DMC 815

Author: P Nandrajog

Bench: P Nandrajog

JUDGMENT Pradeep Nandrajog, J.

1. I do not intend to catalog the various decisions under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act 1955. It would be sufficient for me to note the judicial principles required to be applied while deciding an application under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act 1955.

2. Since the Section relates to entitlement of the appellant spouse to receive interim maintenance from the non-applicant spouse, it is obvious that the focus of enquiry has to be the means of the applicant spouse to maintain him/her self as also the financial means of the non-applicant spouse. The issue of conduct or misconduct of either spouse is irrelevant for the reason, in every proceedings for divorce, dissolution or judicial separation, there is bound to be some allegations or the other pertaining to matrimonial misconduct. Thus, if conduct or misconduct were to be considered, no spouse would get any interim maintenance under Section 24.

3. The Section contemplates a summary enquiry and not a trial at length.

4. Right to maintenance is an incident of the status from an estate of matrimony. Interim maintenance has an element of alimony, which expression in its strict sense means allowance due to wife from husband on separation. It has its basis in social conditions in United Kingdoms under which a married woman was economically dependent and almost in a position of tutelage to the husband and was intended to secure justice to her.

5. Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act goes a step further inasmuch as it permits maintenance to be claimed by the husband even against the wife.

6. While considering a claim for interim maintenance, the court has to keep in mind the status of the parties, reasonable wants of the applicant, the income and property of the applicant. Conversely, requirements of the non applicant, the income and property of the non applicant and additionally the other family members to be maintained by the non applicant have to be taken into all. Whilst it is important to insure that the maintenance awarded to the applicant is sufficient to enable the applicant to live in somewhat the same degree of comfort as in the matrimonial home, but it should not be so exorbitant that the non applicant is unable to pay.

7. Maintenance awarded cannot be punitive. It should aid the applicant to live in a similar life style she/he enjoyed in the matrimonial home. It should not expose the non applicant to unjust contempt or other coercive proceedings. On the other hand, maintenance should not be so low so as to make the order meaningless.

8. Unfortunately, in India, parties do not truthfully reveal their income. For self employed persons or persons employed in the unorganized sector, truthful income never surfaces. Tax avoidance is the norm. Tax compliance is the exception in this country. Therefore, in determining interim maintenance, there cannot be mathematical exactitude. The court has to take a general view.

From the various judicial precedents, the under noted 11 factors can be culled out, which are to be taken into consideration while deciding an application under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act. The same are:

1. Status of the parties.

2. Reasonable wants of the claimant.

3. The independent income and property of the claimant.

4. The number of persons, the non applicant has to maintain.

5. The amount should aid the applicant to live in a similar life
style as he/she enjoyed in the matrimonial home.

6. Non-applicant’s liabilities, if any.

7. Provisions for food, clothing, shelter, education, medical
attendance and treatment etc. of the applicant.

8. Payment capacity of the non applicant.

9. Some guess work is not ruled out while estimating the income of
the non applicant when all the sources or correct sources are not
disclosed.

10. The non applicant to defray the cost of litigation.

11. The amount awarded Under Section 125 Cr.PC is adjustable against
the amount awarded Under Section 24 of the Act.

9. With the backdrop facts aforesaid validity of the impugned order dated 13.5.2004 has to be decided.

10. The non-applicant Smt. Saroj Hegde sought dissolution of her marriage on grounds of cruelty and desertion. She filed a an application under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act praying that she should be awarded a reasonable interim maintenance from her husband. She stated that she was unemployed.

11. In support of her claim, she pleaded that her husband was the son of Shri Rama Krishna Hegde, Ex Chief Minister of the State of Karnataka. She stated that he was an industrialist operating a unit at Peeneya Industrial Estate, Stage-II, Bangalore wherefrom he was earning at least Rs. 10 lacs per month. She further stated that the husband was a co-owner in the following properties:

1. Property No. 229, Raj Mahal Vilas Extension, Bangalore valued Rs.
6 crores.

2. Fionika Building, Walkeshwar Road, 12th Floor, Bombay valued Rs.
4 crores.

3. Ancestral property at Sidapur, Mytri valued Rs. 1 crore.

4. Peeneya Industrial Estate, II Stage, Bangalore valued Rs. 50 lakhs.

5. Flat at Ferozshah Road, New Delhi valued Rs. 2 crores.

6. Coffee Gardens at Coorg, Karnataka valued Rs. 10 crores.

7. 40 acres of agricultural farm land near Jai Nagar valued Rs. 5
crores.

12. Averments in respect of the immovable properties owned by the husband are in para 7 of the application filed by the wife under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act. The same read as under:

PROPERTIES VALUE

i) Property No. 229, Raj Mahal Vilas Extension, Bangalore-560006 Rs.
6 crores

ii) Fionika Building, Walkeshwar Road, 12th floor, Bombay.Rs.4 crores

iii) Ancestral property at Sidhpur, Mytri (co-owner) Rs. 1 crore

iv) Peeneya Industrial Estate, II Stage, Bangalore Rs. 50 lacs

v) Flat at Ferozshah Road, New Delhi Rs. 2 crores

vi) Coffee Gardens at Coorg. Rs. 10 crores

vii) Agricultural farm land (40 acres) near Jai Nagar Rs. 5 crores

13. Response of the husband to the averments made in para 7 are as under:

7. The respondent respectfully submits that, the respondent is
unemployed and he has no source of income and that he is totally
dependent on his parents.

14. It may be noted at the outset that the husband has not denied the assertion that he is the owner of the properties disclosed in para 7 of the application filed by the wife under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act.

15. By and under the impugned order, Rs. 25,000/- per month has been awarded to the wife besides litigation expenses in sum of Rs. 25,000/-.

16. Shri K.N.Bhatt, learned senior counsel for the petitioner urged that while awarding maintenance to the respondent, learned Judge had to consider only the revenue income of the husband. Consideration of capital assets may be relevant in a claim for permanent alimony, urged the counsel. It is wholly irrelevant for purposes of deciding a claim under Section 24, submitted the learned senior counsel.

17. I do not agree.

18. If the capital asset is an industrial property, a coffee plantation, an orchard or any other agricultural holding, there would be a presumption that the said capital asset is yielding some income. It is not presumed to be a dead asset.

19. As noted herein above, unfortunately, nobody pays proper taxes to the Government. Self employed persons seldom disclose their true income. Prudence and worldly wisdom gained by a judge before whom citizens of all stratas of society litigate it can always be used by a Judge to broadly ascertain as to what is going on in the society. By no means, said knowledge can be used where law requires a fact to be conclusively proved. But where the law requires a Judge to form an opinion based on a host of primary data, a Judge can formulate an opinion pertaining to the likely income from the capital assets of the husband.

20. The matter can be viewed differently.

21. It is not the case of the husband that he has abandoned his capital assets. It is not his case that he is not residing in Raj Mahal Vilas Extension, Bangalore.

22. How is he maintaining the said properties?

23. The husband has disclosed nothing about the salaries paid to the various employees, servants and others employed at the various capital assets owned/co-owned by the husband.

24. It is a well recognized principle of law that where a person withholds vital information, a presumption arises against him that had he disclosed the information, the same would have been adverse to him.

25. Keeping in view the capital assets owned/co-owned by the husband, his social status, his place of residence, it is difficult to believe that the husband does not have the requisite means to support his wife a monthly maintenance of Rs. 25,000/-.

26. As regards the wife, there is no proof of she having any income.

27. Order sheets of the present case show numerous attempts made to effect a reconciliation or separation on amicable terms. Unfortunately, the attempts have failed.

28. I find no merit in the petition.

29. Dismissed.

30. The husband is directed to pay costs of the present litigation before this Court to the wife quantified at Rs. 25,000/-.

31. No costs.

husb payng 2K u/s 125Crpc askd 2pay addl 7K u/s 24HMA. Total 9K considered just as salary 45K. CAL HC

Husband paying 2000 under section 125 CrPC is asked to apy addition 7000 under section 24 of HMA. Husband appeals saying he has an ailing mother etc. However court says 9000 is fair !!

* husband paying Rs.2000/- per month under under Section 125 Crpc
* direction by the trial court on the wife’s application under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 to pay Rs.7000/- as alimony pendente lite
* Husband opposes saying he has ailing mother and the 2 K to be included in the 7 K
* Court says 9K (total of 2 + 7 ) is just !!

*****************************disclaimer**********************************
This judgment and other similar judgments posted on this blog was / were collected from Judis nic in website and / or other websites of Govt. of India or other internet web sites like worldlii or indiankanoon or High court websites. Some notes are made by Vinayak. This is a free service provided by Vinayak (pen name). Vinayak is a member of SIF – Save Indian Family movement. SIF as a concept is committed to fighting FALSE dowry cases and elder abuse. SIF supports gender equality and a fair treatment of law abiding Indian men. Should you find the dictum in this judgment or the judgment itself repealed or amended or would like to make improvements or comments, please post a comment on the comment section of the blog and if you are reading this on tumblr please post responses as comments at vinayak.wordpress.com . Vinayak is NOT a lawyer and nothing in this blog and/or site and/or file should be considered as legal advise.

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CASE FROM JUDIS / INDIAN KANOON WEB SITE
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Kolkata High Court (Appellete Side)

Sri Kaushik Das vs Smt. Soumita Das ( Ghosh ) on 30 October, 2014

Author: Sanjib Banerjee

30.10.2014.

C O 3203 of 2014

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Mr. Manik Lal Poddar …for the petitioner.
Mr. Narayan Chandra Ghosh ….for the respondent.
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The petitioner claims that since the husband is being paid Rs.2000/- per month under orders passed in proceedings under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the direction by the trial court on the wife’s application under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 to pay Rs.7000/- as alimony pendente lite should include the amount of Rs.2000/- already being paid.

It is evident from the order impugned dated September 1, 2014 that the trial court was alive to the fact that a sum of Rs.2000/- was being paid by the petitioner pursuant to the orders passed in the criminal proceedings. After noticing such fact, a sum of Rs.7000/- has been directed to be paid. The petitioning respondent has made over the salary slip for the month of March, 2014 from which it appears that he has a monthly income of Rs.45,000/- after deducing the amount on account of income tax and professional tax. In the circumstances, a monthly payment of Rs.9000/- to the wife cannot be regarded as exorbitant even if the petitioner’s case of his ailing mother is also to be believed. http://evinayak.tumblr.com/ ; https://vinayak.wordpress.com/ ; http://fromvinayak.blogspot.com

CO No. 3203 of 2014 is disposed of with the observation that the petitioner will pay his wife Rs.7000/- per month as alimony pendente lite in addition to the sum of Rs.2000/- being paid in the criminal proceedings.

There will be no order as to costs.

Urgent certified website copies of this order, if applied for, be made available to the parties upon compliance of the requisite formalities.

(Sanjib Banerjee, J.)

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Vinayak
Father of a lovely daughter, criminal in the eyes of a wife, son of an compassionate elderly mother, old timer who hasn’t given up, Male, activist