Rajat Bhatia v. Roli Bhatia

order.

¶15Present appeal is thus not maintainable and same is hereby dismissed. +CM Nos.15558-59/2009 *

Dismissed as rendered infructuous.

18th November, 2009

V.B.GUPTA, J. rb

* HIGH COURT OF DELHI : NEW DELHI FAO. No.336/2009 & CM Nos.15558-59/2009 % Judgment reserved on: 11th November, 2009 Judgment delivered on: 18th November, 2009 Rajat Bhatia S/o. Sh. R.K. Bhatia R/o. BN-1, West, Shalimar Bagh Delhi-110088 ….Petitioner Through: Mr. Harish Malhotra, Sr. Adv. with Mr. Siddharth Silwal, Adv. Versus Roli Bhatia W/o. SH. Rajat Bhatia D/o. Sh. Ramesh Arora C/o. Mr. & Mrs. Pankaj & Madhavi Narulla Flat No.203, NVS Apartments Durga Nagar Colony Somajiguda Hyderabad, A.P. And Also At: 26/4, Nawab Yusuf Road Behind CTO, Panchsheel Colony, Civil Lines, Allahabad, UP. And Also At: C/o. Arora Cotton House 25/52, M.G. Marg, Civil Lines, Allahabad, U.P. ….Respondent. Through: Nemo. Coram: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.B. GUPTA 1. Whether the Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes 2. To be referred to Reporter or not? Yes 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? Yes V.B.Gupta, J. Appellant has filed present appeal against order dated 9th October, 2009 passed by Guardian Judge, vide which it held that it has no territorial jurisdiction to entertain and try the petition. 2. Appellant filed petition under Section17 and 25 read with Section 6 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 (for short as "Act") for grant of custody of minor children. In that petition, respondent filed an application under Order 7 Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure read with Section 9 of the Act, praying for dismissal of the petition for want of territorial jurisdiction. 3. Marriage between appellant and respondent was solemnized according to Hindu Rites in 1996 at Delhi and after marriage, the parties were residing at Delhi. Case of appellant is that on 6th January, 2008, respondent left the matrimonial home discretely along with minor children, in the absence of appellant. She also took away the entire jewellery and a sum of Rs.2.5 lacs from the almirah of appellant"s mother. 4. In the written statement it is stated by respondent that she and her minor sons were thrown out of the matrimonial home and were rendered homeless. Thus they were forced by the circumstances to leave Delhi permanently and to shift to Hyderabad on 6th January, 2008 and seek refuge in the house of her parents. Since children are living in Hyderabad along with respondent and maternal grandparents, Delhi Court had no jurisdiction. 5. It has been contended by learned counsel for appellant that it is well established principle of law that it is not the place of residence of the guardian that gives jurisdiction to the Court under Section 9 of the Act but it is the place of ordinary residence of the minor and for which purpose the legislature has designedly used the words "where the minor ordinarily resides". The words "ordinarily resides" in Section 9 of the Act" does not mean place of mere temporary residence or residence by compulsion. After coming to the conclusion regarding ordinary residence of the minor, the entire facts and circumstances of the case has to be taken into consideration besides leading of evidence. Jurisdiction is the mixed question of law and fact and thus can only be determined after leading of evidence. 6. It is further contended that the fact that on the date of chamber interaction, the children had come to the Court accompanied by their mother and all other relatives of the mother. Under these circumstances, it is abundantly clear that the minds of the children were tortured and they spoke only what they had been instructed by their mother. This aspect has been completely ignored by the trial court. Since respondent has left the matrimonial home discretely along with minor children without informing the appellant, Delhi Court has got jurisdiction to entertain the petition. In support, learned counsel for appellant cited various judgments namely; 1. Bhagyalakshmi and Another vs. K.N. Narayana Rao, AIR 1983 Madras 9, 2. Paul Mohinder Gahun vs. Selina Gahun, 130 (2006) DLT 524, 3. Dr. Vinay Samual Arawattigi vs.