Rishi Kumar Sharma v. Lata @ Hem Lata

o ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o 110o o o o o o o FAO-3251-2021o o o o o o o o Reservedoon:o24.04.2025o o o o o o o o Pronouncedoon:o16.05.2025o o RishioKumaroSharmao ...Appellantoo o o o o o Versuso o Smt.oLatao@oHemoLataoo ...Respondento o 110-2oo o o o o o FAO-1446-2023o o o o o o o o HemoLataoSharmao ...Appellantoo o o o o o Versuso o RishioKumaroSharmaoandoothersoo ...Respondentso o 110-3oo o o o o o TA-184-2023o o o o o o o o HemoLataoSharmao ...Applicantoo o oo o o Versuso o RishioKumaroSharmaoandoothersoo ...Respondentso o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSURESHWARoTHAKURo o o o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVIKASoSURIo o o Present:-o HemoLataoSharmaoasoappellant/applicantoinopersono o o (inoFAO-1446-2023oandoinoTA-184-2023)o o o andoasorespondento(inoFAO-3251-2021).o o o o Mr.oSandeepoPunchhi,oAdvocateo o o forotheoappellanto(inoFAO-3251-2021).o o o o Dr.oRauoP.S.Girwar,oAdvocateoando o o Ms.oArchanaoAroraoRau,oAdvocate,o o o Ms.oK.T.Rau,oAdvocateoando o o Mr.oAshishoSharma,oAdvocateo o o fororespondentoNo.1o(inoFAO-1446-2023).o o *****o o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-2-oooooooo o o o VIKASoSURI,oJ.o

1.o o oThrougho thiso commono judgment,o weo proposeo too disposeo ofo FAO-3251-2021o titledo aso "Rishio Kumaro Sharmao vs.o Smt.o Latao @o Hemo Lata";o FAO-1446-2023o titledo aso "Hemo Latao Sharmao vs.o Rishio Kumaro Sharmaoandoothers";oandoTA-184-2023otitledoaso"HemoLataoSharmaovs.o Rishio Kumaro Sharmao ando others".o Allo theo threeo caseso areo arisingo fromo matrimonialodiscordobetweenotheoappellant-husbandoandorespondent-wifeoando withotheoconsentoofotheopartiesoareobeingoheardotogetheroandodecidedobyoao commonojudgment.o

2.o o Theofactsoinobrief,oforoconvenience,ohaveobeenomarshalledofromo allotheothreeocasesobutoeachocaseoisobeingodiscussedoindividually.o FAO-3251-2021o

3.o o ThisoappealohasobeenopreferredounderoSectiono19oofotheoFamilyo CourtsoAct,o1984o(foroshort,otheo'Actoofo1984')obyotheohusband,oaggrievedobyo theoorderodatedo17.09.2021opassedobyotheolearnedoPrincipaloJudge,oFamilyo Court,oSirsaowherebyoanoapplicationofiledobyotheoappellant-husbandoseekingo permissiono too withdrawo hiso statemento sufferedo beforeo theo Nationalo Loko Adalatoono10.04.2021,ohasobeenodismissed.o

4.o o Brieflyo stated,o sanso unnecessaryo details,o marriageo ofo theo appellantoandorespondentowasosolemnizedoono08.12.2010oandonoochildohaso beenoborno fromo theosaido wedlock.o Theo appellant-husbando filedo ao petitiono undero Sectiono 13o ofo theo Hinduo Marriageo Acto seekingo dissolutiono ofo theo marriageobyoaodecreeoofodivorce,oono23.12.2011.oInotheosaidopetition,oanoex-parteodecreeoofodivorceowasopassedobyotheolearnedoAdditionaloDistrictoJudge,o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-3-oooooooo o o o Sirsa,o video judgmento ando decreeo datedo 08.01.2013o (Annexureo P-1).o Theo respondent-wifeo movedo ano applicationo undero Ordero 9o Ruleo 13o CPCo foro settingoasideotheoex-parteoproceedingoorderodatedo12.11.2012oandotheofinalo ex-parteojudgmentoandodecreeodatedo08.01.2013.oo

4.1o o Duringo theo pendencyo ofo theo saido proceedings,o ao compromiseo wasoeffectedobetweenotheoappellantoandotheorespondent,owhichowasotakenoono recordoasoEx.C-1.oOwingotootheocompromise,otheorespondentomovedoanothero applicationoseekingotoowithdrawoheroapplicationoforosettingoasideotheoex-parteo proceedings/judgmentoandodecree.oAocopyoofotheosupraocompromiseoEx.C-1o hasonotobeenoplacedoonorecordobeforeothisoCourtobyoeitheroofotheoparties.oIno viewoofotheostatementosufferedobyotheoapplicant-wifeoandotheocompromiseo Ex.C-1o arrivedo ato betweeno theo parties,o theo formero applicationo datedo

08.10.2013o waso orderedo too beo dismissedo aso withdrawno video ordero datedo

10.04.2018o(AnnexureoP-4).o

4.2o o Earlierothereto,otheorespondent-wifeohadofiledoaocomplaintoundero Sectiono12oofotheoProtectionoofoWomenofromoDomesticoViolenceoAct,o2005o (foroshort,otheo'Actoofo2005')oono19.09.2013,oalongowithoanoapplicationoundero Sectiono23oofotheoibidoAct,oforointerimorelief.oTheosaidoapplicationoforointerimo reliefo waso allowedo video ordero datedo 04.10.2017o passedo byo theo learnedo JudicialoMagistrateoFirstoClass,oBathinda,oandotheohusbando(appellantoherein)o wasodirectedotoopayoRs.20,000/-operomonthotootheowifeoforoheromaintenanceo fromotheodateoofotheoapplication.oItowasofurtheroorderedothatotheoentireoarrearso ofomaintenanceobeopaidobyo15.11.2017,oi.e.,otheothenonextodateoofohearingoino theoaforesaidocase.oo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-4-oooooooo o o o

4.3o o Theorespondent-wifeohadofiledoanoapplicationounderoSectiono125o ofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973o(foroshorto'Cr.P.C)oono04.01.2016,o whereinotheolearnedoChiefoJudicialoMagistrate,oBathinda,ovideoorderodatedo

09.09.2016,o awardedo interimo maintenanceo ato theo rateo ofo Rs.20,000/-o pero monthofromotheodateoofofilingoofotheosaidoapplication.oAggrievedobyotheosaido order,otheoappellant-husbandopreferredoaocriminalorevisionobeforeotheoCourto ofo Session,obearingoNo.28oofo24.05.2017,o whicho onobeingo registeredo waso assignedoCRNoNo.oCRR-138/2017.ooAfterodueocontestobyotheorespondent-wife,otheosupraocriminalorevisionowasodismissedovideoorderodatedo24.05.2017o passedobyotheolearnedoSessionsoJudge,oBathinda.o

4.4o o Thereafter,o ono 17.04.2018,o theo respondent-wifeo movedo ano applicationofororestorationoofotheoearlieroapplicationoreferredotooaboveoundero Ordero9oRuleo13oCPCoforosettingoasideotheoorderodatedo12.11.2012,owherebyo sheowasoproceededoagainstoex-parteoandotheoex-parteojudgmentoandodecreeo datedo08.01.2013opassedobyotheolearnedoAdditionaloDistrictoJudge,oSirsa.oItoiso averredoinotheosaidoapplicationothatotheoappellant-husband,oafteropassingoofo theoorderodatedo10.04.2018,ohasorefusedotookeepoandomaintainotheorespondent-wifeoandohasoproclaimedoofohavingoplayedofraudouponoherofororeconciliation,o toogetoheromainoapplicationowithdrawn.oTheolatteroapplicationowasoallowedo videoorderodatedo03.06.2019o(AnnexureoP-5)opassedobyotheolearnedoPrincipalo Judge,oFamilyoCourt,oSirsa,oandotheomatterowasokeptoforoarguments,oposto lunchobreak,oonotheosameoday.oTheosaidoorderowasochallengedobeforeothiso Court,obyotheoappellant-husband,obyowayoofoCR-4695-2019otitledoaso"Rishio Kumaro Sharmao vs.o Hemlatao Sharma",o ando video ordero datedo 16.08.2019o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-5-oooooooo o o o (AnnexureoP-6),onoticeoofomotionowasoissuedowhileodirectingotheotrialoCourto tooadjournotheocaseobeyondotheodateofixedoinotheosaidorevisionopetition.oTheo supraopetition,oatotheoaskingoofotheoappellant-husbando(petitionerotherein),o waso permittedo beo too withdrawno ando video ordero datedo 23.02.2023,o CR-4695-2019owasodismissedoasowithdrawn.o

4.5o o Theoappellant-husbandohadoalsoofiledoaopetitionounderoSectiono 482oCr.P.C.oforoquashingotheocomplaintounderoSectiono12oofotheoActoofo2005o aso wello aso theo ordero datedo 04.10.2017o passedo byo theo learnedo Judicialo Magistrateo Firsto Class,o Bathinda,o ando subsequento proceedingso thereto,o wherebyo theo appellanto waso directedo too payo interimo maintenanceo ofo Rs.20,000/-o pero montho too theo respondent-wifeo undero theo provisionso ofo Sectiono23oofotheoActoofo2005,owhichocameotoobeoregisteredoasoCRM-M-40708-2018.oo

4.6o o Ono 23.02.2023,o theo saido petitiono waso alsoo dismissedo aso withdrawn.oTheoapplicationounderoSectiono125oCr.P.C.oforomaintenance,oato theoinstanceoofotheorespondent-wife,oculminatedointootheowifeobeingoawardedo aosumoofoRs.20,000/-operomonthovideoorderodatedo07.09.2018,oi.e.,otheosameo amountothatowasoawardedoasointerimomaintenanceoandowasoupheldobyothiso Court.oTheopartiesohaveonotopleadedooroplacedoanyo materialoonorecordotoo showothatotheofinaloorderodatedo07.09.2018,opassedoonotheosupraoapplication,o wasomodifiedoorointerferedowith,obyoanyosuperioroCourt.oo

4.7o o Ono accounto ofo theo maintenanceo grantedo undero Sectiono 125o Cr.P.C.oandounderoSectiono23oofotheoActoofo2005,onotohavingobeenopaidoinofullo tootheorespondent-wife,otheoappellant-husbandoisoinoarrearsoofomaintenance.o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-6-oooooooo o o o Theorespondent-wifeothroughoheroaffidavitosubmittedoono10.04.2021obeforeo theo learnedo Familyo Courto haso averredo thato ao sumo ofo Rs.10,49,642/-o iso outstandingo towardso maintenanceo allowance,o besideso Rs.8,23,000/-o ono accountoofoarrearsooforent.oo

4.8o o Ito iso noteworthyo thato sinceo theo institutiono ofo theo applicationo datedo08.10.2013oseekingosettingoasideotheoex-parteojudgmentoandodecree,o moreothano80ohearingsohadotakenoplaceotillo10.04.2021.oTheorespondent-wifeo pleadedo thato sheo hado ao legitimateo expectationo ofo reimbursemento ofo hugeo expenditureo incurredo byo hero foro theo numerouso visitso and,o thus,o madeo ano applicationoforocompensationotoothatoeffect.oInoorderotoolookointootheosaido aspect,otheomatterowasodeferredobutoafterorecordingotheovoluntaryounivocalo statementoofotheoappellant-husband,oonooath,otherebyorecordingohisoprayerotoo withdrawohisomainopetitionounderoSectiono13oofotheoHinduoMarriageoAct.o

4.9o o Theoapplicationofiledobyotheoappellant-husbandoforowithdrawingo hisostatementosufferedobeforeotheoNationaloLokoAdalatoono10.04.2021,owaso emphaticallyo contestedo byo theo respondent-wife.o Aftero consideringo theo submissionso madeo byo theo partieso ando perusingo theo record,o theo suprao applicationowasodismissedovideoorderodatedo17.09.2021opassedobyotheolearnedo PrincipaloJudge,oFamilyoCourt,oSirsa.ooAccordingly,otheomatterowasodisposedo ofoasosettledoinotheoNationaloLokoAdalatoono10.04.2021oandotheomainopetitiono stoododismissedoasowithdrawnoasoperotheostatementoofotheoappellant-husband.oo

5.o o Aggrievedo byo theo aforesaido ordero datedo 17.09.2021,o theo appellant-husbandohasoassailedotheosameothroughotheoinstantoappeal.o

6.o o Learnedocounseloforotheoappellantosubmittedothatoasotheoawardo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-7-oooooooo o o o byotheoNationaloLokoAdalatowasonotopassedoono10.04.2021,otheoappellant-husbandooughtotoohaveobeenopermittedotoowithdrawotheostatementosufferedobyo him.ooResultoofonotopassingotheoawardoonotheodayooforecordingotheostatemento wouldobeothatotheomatterowasonoolongerobeforeotheoNationaloLokoAdalat.oItoiso furthero arguedo thato theo appellanto hado sufferedo theo aforesaido statement,o regardingowithdrawaloofotheomainodivorceopetition,oinohasteoandowithoutofullyo understandingotheo consequenceso arisingo therefrom.o Ito iso furthero submittedo thatotheoappellant-husbandoisoaochronicopatientoofohypertensionoforotheolasto manyoyearsoandoisoonomedicationoforotheosaidodiseaseoandoremainsodisturbedo owingotoonumerousolitigationsobetweenotheopartiesoinovariousocourts.o

7.o o Theorespondent-wifeohasoemphaticallyoopposedotheoappealoando defendedotheoimpugnedoorderoandosubmitsothatotheoappellant-husbandocannoto beopermittedoinolawotooresileofromotheostatementomadeoonooath,oofohisoowno volition,obeforeotheoNationaloLokoAdalat.ooTheogroundsourgedoinoheroreplyo datedo 09.07.2021o too theo applicationo seekingo withdrawalo ofo theo statemento sufferedobeforeotheoNationaloLokoAdalat,ohaveobeenoreiterated.o

8.o o Weohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheoappellantoasowelloaso theorespondent-wifeoinopersonoandoperusedotheorecord.o

9.o o Itoisonotodisputedothatomarriageoofotheopartiesowasosolemnizedoono

08.12.2010oandonoochildohasobeenobornofromotheosaidowedlock.oTheopartieso haveobeenoinolitigationosinceoDecember,o2011,othatois,ojustooneoyearoafterotheo marriage.oAoperusaloofotheorecordowouldoshowothatosomeocompromiseocameo too beo effectedo betweeno theo partieso ino theo proceedingso pertainingo too theo applicationofiledobyotheorespondent-wifeounderoOrdero9oRuleo13oCPCoforo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-8-oooooooo o o o settingo asideo theo ex-parteo judgmento ando decreeo datedo 08.01.2013.o Ito iso evidentothatotheopartiesohadobeenocontemplatingoofoamicablyosettlingotheolis.o However,oasoallegedobyotheorespondent-wife,otheoappellant-husbandoresiledo fromohisocommitmentoandohence,osheofiledoanoapplicationofororestoringohero earlieroapplicationounderoOrdero9oRuleo13oCPC.oTillosaidopointoinotime,onearlyo fiveoyearsohadoelapsedosinceotheoexoparteodivorceohadobeenograntedoandobyo thenomultipleolitigationsowereopendingobeforeodifferentoForums,oatodifferento stages,obetweenotheoparties.oAoperusaloofotheorecordowouldoshowothatotheo appellant-husbandosufferedotheohereinafteroextractedostatemento(asotranslatedo byotheoTranslationoBranchoofothisoCourtofromoHindiotooEnglish)obeforeotheo NationaloLokoAdalat,obeingopresidedooverobyotheolearnedoPrincipaloJudge,o FamilyoCourt,oSirsa,owhichocameotoobeorecordedoono10.04.2021.oTheorecordo furtherorevealsothatotheosaidostatementowasomadeoonooathoandotheoappellanto aftero havingo reado theo same,o acceptedo ito too beo correct,o whicho waso ino theo presenceoofohisocounsel,owhooidentifiedotheoappellant-husband.o o"StatementoofoRishioKumaros/oolateoPiareoLal,oagedo57oyears,or/oo #624,oGalioNo.10,oAggarsainoClony,oSirsa.oo OnoS.A.o ItoisostatedothatoIohaveomadeodecisionothroughotheoNationaloLoko AdalatothatoIowithdrawomyomainopetitionounderoSectiono13oofotheo HMA.oAfterowithdrawal,oitomayobeofiled.o o RO&ACo o o o o ooooooooSd/-o Sd/-oRishioKumaro o o oooooo(JasbiroSinghoKundu)o (InoEnglish)o o oo ooooooooooPrincipaloJudge,oFamilyoCourto ooooooSirsao Identifiedobyo Sd/-oo (inoEnglish)o 10/4/21"o o o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-9-oooooooo o o o

10.o o Thatoono18.09.2020,otheorespondent-wifeomovedotheociviloCourto toosueotheoappellant-husband,oasoformaopauperis,oforoheroclaimounderoSectiono 18oofotheoHinduoAdoptionoandoMaintenanceoActofororecoveryoofomaintenanceo allowance/permanento alimonyo ato theo rateo ofo Rs.30,000/-o pero montho foro ao periodoofotenoyearsoandoforocreatingotheochargeoofotheoaforesaidoamountoinotheo sumoofoRs.36,00,000/-oalongowithotheoamountoofoarrearsoofomaintenanceoofo Rs.8,69,512/-oonotheoserviceobenefitsoofotheoappellant-husbandoworkingoaso Exciseo ando Taxationo Officer,o Rampurao Phul,o Districto Bathinda,o sinceo promotedo aso Commissionero ando dueo too retireo fromo serviceo withino ao fewo months.oTheoreliefoofopermanentoinjunctionowasoalsoosoughtorestrainingotheo officialorespondents,oi.e.,otheoemployeroandodepartmentoofotheorespondent-husband,ofromoreleasingotheoserviceobenefits/retiralobenefitsoofotheohusbando beforeopaymentoofotheoaforesaidoclaimedoamountoandoarrearsoofomaintenance,o whicho wereo claimedo too beo ino theo sumo ofo Rs.44,69,512/-.o Theo appellant-husbandowasorepresentedoinotheosupraosuitothroughocounsel.o

11.o o Itoisoevidentofromotheorecordothatotheoappellant-husbandosufferedo ao statemento beforeo theo Nationalo Loko Adalato ono 10.04.2021,o whereaso theo applicationoseekingotoowithdrawofromotheosaidostatementowasoinstitutedoono

07.06.2021.oItoisonotableothatoinotheomeanwhile,otheorespondent-wifeohadoono

23.04.2021oalsooinstitutedoaosuitoforodeclarationointeroaliaochallengingotheo adoptionodeed.oInotheoearlierosuitoforomaintenance,oinstitutedoono18.09.2020,o anoexoparteoad-interimoinjunctionofromoreleasingotheoserviceobenefitsowaso grantedovideoorderodatedo05.05.2021opassedobyotheolearnedoPrincipaloJudge,o FamilyoCourt,oBathinda.oThus,oitoisoapparentothatotheopleasosetoupobyotheo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-10-oooooooo o o appellant-husbandoseekingotoowithdrawohisostatementosufferedoofohisoowno volitionobeforeotheoNationaloLokoAdalat,oono10.04.2021,oisoanoafterthought.o Theoappellant-husbandochallengedotheosaidoorderodatedo05.05.2021obeforeo thisoCourtobyowayoofoCR-1433-2021oandoinotheosaidoproceedings,ovideoordero datedo 29.07.2022,o theo officialo respondentso wereo directedo too releaseo ano amountoofoRs.8,00,000/-oinofavourooforespondent-wifeobyotransferringotheo saidosumoinoherobankoaccount.oUponotheosaidoamountohavingobeenotransferredo too theo respondent-wife,o theo suprao revisiono petitiono (CR-1433-2021)o waso withdrawnobyotheoappellant-husbandoono09.09.2022.oo

12.o o TheoquestionothatoarisesoforoconsiderationobeforeothisoCourtoino theo presento appealo iso whethero ano awardo noto havingo beeno passedo byo theo Nationalo Loko Adalato ono theodateooforecordingostatementso wouldoousto theo jurisdictionoofotheosaidoLokoAdalatotoosubsequentlyorecordoanoorder/awardo andotheopartiesocouldobeopermittedotoounilaterallyowithdrawotheirostatement(s)o beforeopassingoofosuchoorder/award.o

13.o o Weohaveoprofoundlyoconsideredotheoaforesaidoissue,okeepingoino mindotheopeculiarofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheopresentocase.oBeforeoweo delveointootheocoreoissueoforodiscussion,oitowouldobeoappositeotooreferotootheo statutoryoschemeoofoLokoAdalats,oprovidedounderoChapteroVIoofotheoLegalo ServicesoAuthoritiesoAct,o1987o(foroshort,otheo"Actoofo1987"),otheorelevanto provisionsowhereofoareoextractedohereinafterofororeadyoreference.o CHAPTERoVIo LOKoADALATSo o 19.o Organisationo ofo Loko Adalats.—(1)o Everyo Stateo Authorityo oro Districto Authorityo oro theo Supremeo Courto Legalo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-11-oooooooo o o Serviceso Committeeo oro everyo Higho Courto Legalo Serviceso Committeeo or,o aso theo caseo mayo be,o Taluko Legalo Serviceso Committeeo mayo organizeo Loko Adalatso ato sucho intervalso ando placesoandoforoexercisingosuchojurisdictionoandoforosuchoareasoaso itothinksofit.oo o (2)oEveryoLokoAdalatoorganisedoforoanoareaoshalloconsisto ofosuchonumberoof―oo

(a)oservingoororetiredojudicialoofficers;oandoo

(b)ootheropersons,oo ofotheoareaoasomayobeospecifiedobyotheoStateoAuthorityoorotheo Districto Authorityo oro theo Supremeo Courto Legalo Serviceso CommitteeoorotheoHighoCourtoLegaloServicesoCommittee,ooroaso theo caseo mayo be,o theo Taluko Legalo Serviceso Committee,o organisingosuchoLokoAdalat.oo

(3)oTheoexperienceoandoqualificationsoofootheropersonso referredo too ino clauseo (b)o ofo sub-sectiono (2)o foro Loko Adalatso organisedo byo theo Supremeo Courto Legalo Serviceso Committeeo shallobeosuchoasomayobeoprescribedobyotheoCentraloGovernmento inoconsultationowithotheoChiefoJusticeoofoIndia.oo

(4)oTheoexperienceoandoqualificationsoofootheropersonso referredo too ino clauseo (b)o ofo sub-sectiono (2)o foro Loko Adalatso otherothanoreferredotooinosub-sectiono(3)oshallobeosuchoasomayobeo prescribedobyotheoStateoGovernmentoinoconsultationowithotheo ChiefoJusticeoofotheoHighoCourt.oo

(5)oAoLokoAdalatoshallohaveojurisdictionotoodetermineo andotooarriveoatoaocompromiseoorosettlementobetweenotheopartieso tooaodisputeoinorespectoof―oo

(i)oanyocaseopendingobefore;ooroo

(ii)o anyo mattero whicho iso fallingo withino theo jurisdictionoof,oandoisonotobroughtobefore,oanyoCourtoforo whichotheoLokoAdalatoisoorganised:oo ProvidedothatotheoLokoAdalatoshallohaveonoojurisdictiono ino respecto ofo anyo caseo oro mattero relatingo too ano offenceo noto compoundableounderoanyolaw.oo

20.oCognizanceoofocasesobyoLokoAdalats.—(1)oWhereo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-12-oooooooo o o inoanyocaseoreferredotooinoclauseo(i)oofosub-sectiono(5)oofosectiono 19,―oo

(i)oooooooo(a)otheopartiesothereofoagree;ooroo

(b)ooneoofotheopartiesothereofomakesoanoapplicationo tootheoCourt,ofororeferringotheocaseotootheoLoko Adalato foro settlemento ando ifo sucho courto iso primaofacieosatisfiedothatothereoareochancesoofo suchosettlement;ooroo

(ii)oo theo courto iso satisfiedo thato theo mattero iso ano appropriateooneotoobeotakenocognizanceoofobyotheo LokoAdalat,oo theoCourtoshalloreferotheocaseotootheoLokoAdalat:oo ProvidedothatonoocaseoshallobeoreferredotootheoLokoAdalato underosub-clauseo(b)oofoclauseo(i)ooroclauseo(ii)obyosuchocourto exceptoafterogivingoaoreasonableoopportunityoofobeingoheardotoo theoparties.oo

(2)o Notwithstandingo anythingo containedo ino anyo eithero lawoforotheotimeobeingoinoforce,otheoAuthorityooroCommitteeo organisingotheoLokoAdalatounderosub-sectiono(1)oofosection19o may,oonoreceiptoofoanoapplicationofromoanyooneoofotheopartiesotoo anyomatteroreferredotooinoclauseo(ii)oofosub-sectiono(5)oofosectiono 19othatosuchomatteroneedsotoobeodeterminedobyoaoLokoAdalat,o referosuchomatterotootheoLokoAdalat,oforodetermination:oo Providedo thato noo mattero shallo beo referredo too theo Loko Adalatoexceptoafterogivingoaoreasonableoopportunityoofobeingo heardotootheootheroparty.oo

(3)oWhereoanyocaseoisoreferredotooaoLokoAdalatoundero sub-sectiono(1)oorowhereoaoreferenceohasobeenomadeotooitoundero sub-sectiono(2),otheoLokoAdalatoshalloproceedotoodisposeoofotheo caseo oro mattero ando arriveo ato ao compromiseo oro settlemento betweenotheoparties.o

(4)o Everyo Loko Adalato shall,o whileo determiningo anyo referenceobeforeoitounderothisoAct,oactowithoutmostoexpeditionotoo arriveoatoaocompromiseoorosettlementobetweenotheopartiesoando shallobeoguidedobyotheoprinciplesoofojustice,oequity,ofairoplayoando oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-13-oooooooo o o otherolegaloprinciples.oo

(5)oWhereonooawardoisomadeobyotheoLokoAdalatoonotheo groundothatonoocompromiseoorosettlementocouldobeoarrivedoato betweenotheoparties,otheorecordoofotheocaseoshallobeoreturnedobyo ito too theo court,o fromo whicho theo referenceo haso beeno receivedo underosub-sectiono(1)oforodisposaloinoaccordanceowitholaw.oo

(6)oWhereonooawardoisomadeobyotheoLokoAdalatoonotheo groundothatonoocompromiseoorosettlementocouldobeoarrivedoato betweenotheoparties,oinoaomatteroreferredotooinosub-sectiono(2),o thatoLokoAdalatoshalloadviceotheopartiesotooseekoremedyoinoao court.oo

(7)oWhereotheorecordoofotheocaseoiforeturnedounderosub-sectiono(5)otootheocourt,osuchocourtoshalloproceedotoodealowitho sucho caseo fromo theo stageo whicho waso reachedo beforeo sucho referenceounderosub-sectiono(1)."o o

14.o o TheoorganisationoofoLokoAdalatsoisoprovidedounderoSectiono19o ando cognizanceo ofo caseso byo Loko Adalats,o iso governedo byo theo provisionso enshrinedounderoSectiono20oofotheoActo(ibid).oAoperusaloofotheoaforesaido provisionsowouldorevealothatoonceotheoLokoAdalatotakesocognizanceoofoaocase,o itostaysowithotheosaidoLokoAdalatountilotheosameoisoreturnedotootheoCourt,ofromo whichotheoreferenceohasobeenoreceivedounderosub-sectiono(1),oforodisposaloino accordanceowitholaw.ooInotheocaseoatohand,otheoNationaloLokoAdalatohadotakeno cognizanceoofotheocaseoono10.04.2021,owhenotheostatementoofotheoappellant-husbando hado beeno recordedo buto foro minutelyo examiningo theo recordo foro assessmentoregardingotheoclaimoforocompensationoraisedobyotheorespondent-wife,otheomatterowasodeferredotoo30.10.2021.oTheopresidingoofficerothenobeingo onohomeoquarantine,ohavingotestedoCoronaopositive,otheomatterowasopostedo foro07.06.2021.oThereoisonoomaterialoonorecordotoosuggestothatotheomatterohado oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-14-oooooooo o o beenoreturnedotootheoreferraloCourt,oasounsettled.ooInotheoabsenceoofotheosameo andotheoproceduralohearingsonoticedoabove,otheomatteroremainedowithotheo Nationalo Loko Adalat,o whicho ultimatelyo passedo theo impugnedo ordero datedo

17.09.2021.oThus,otheoNationaloLokoAdalatohavingotakenocognizanceoofotheo caseoandonotohavingoreturnedoitotootheoCourtothatohadoreferredotheosame,otheo mattero remainedo witho theo Loko Adalato ando ito hado jurisdictiono too passo theo impugnedoorder.o

15.o o Aoperusaloofotheoimpugnedoorderowouldofurtheroshowothatoinotheo circumstancesoarisingoinotheoinstantocase,othereowasonoolegalonecessityotoo deferotheoproceedingso too examineotheorecord.o o Ito iso noto disputedothatotheo petitionounderoSectiono13oofotheoHinduoMarriageoActoforoaodecreeoofodivorceo hadobeenofiledobyotheoappellant-husband.ooAsosuch,oheowasotheodominusolitiso andoitowasohisoprerogativeotoowithdrawohisopetitionounilaterally,oinotermsoofo theo statemento sufferedo ono 10.04.2021,o beforeo theo Nationalo Loko Adalat.o Havingovoluntarilyomadeotheostatemento(supra),othereowasonooillegalityoino acceptingoitoandopassingotheoimpugnedoorder.oRatherotheolitigationothatohado commencedoono23.12.2011owasobeingogivenoaoquietusoandotheosameoisowithino theolaudableoobjectiveoofotheoActoofo1987.oTheorespondent-wifeocouldonoto haveolegitimatelyoobjectedotootheosimpliciterowithdrawal,oasonooprejudiceoiso likelyotoobeocausedotooher.oMoreover,owithdrawaloofotheomainopetitionoforo divorceowouldonotoalsoohaveoanyoadverseoeffectouponotheomaintenanceoorderso passedoinoherofavourounderoSectiono125oCr.P.C.oandoSectiono23oofotheoActoofo 2005,orespectively.oInofact,osuchoaoprayerocanoalsoobeograntedobyotheoFamilyo CourtoandonotojustobyotheoLokoAdalat.oThus,oinotheoconsideredoviewoofothiso oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-15-oooooooo o o Court,otheoNationaloLokoAdalatoshouldohaveopassedotheoawardoono10.04.2021o itself,o aftero theo appellant-husbando hado sufferedo ao voluntaryo univocalo statemento too withdrawo hiso maino petitiono undero Sectiono 13o ofo theo Hinduo MarriageoAct.oo

16.o o Theomatteromayobeoviewedofromoyetoanotheroangle.ooItoisosettledo propositiono thato ao statemento madeo beforeo theo Loko Adalato cannoto beo unilaterallyorecalled.ooForodoingoso,oexplicitoconsentoofotheootheropartyoiso necessary,owhichoisonotoforthcomingoinotheopresentocase.ooExceptionotootheo ruleowouldobeoquaoaostatement,owhichoisotheoresultoofodeceitoorofraud.ooAnyo otherointerpretationowouldobeoinoviolationoofotheostatutoryoprovisionsoando prejudicialotootheolaudableoobjectiveoofotheoActoofo1987.ooIfosuchoaoview,oaso presentedobyotheoappellant,oisopermittedotooprevail,oallosettlementsobeforeotheo Loko Adalato wouldo faceo theoperiloofouncertaintyo andotheolegislativeointento wouldo failo too beo achieved.o o Oneo cannoto loseo sighto ofo theo facto thato theo appellant-husbandowasoaccompaniedoandoassistedobyohisocounsel,owhenoheoofo hisoownovolitionosufferedotheostatementobeforeotheoNationaloLokoAdalatoono

10.04.2021.ooNoocogentomaterialohasobeenoplacedoonorecordotoodemonstrateo thato theo appellant-husbando waso undero anyo handicapo wheno heo goto hiso statementorecorded,owhichowouldorenderoitotoofallounderoanyoexceptionotootheo rule.oTheostatementowasorecordedoono10.04.2021owhereasotheoapplicationoforo withdrawingotheosameowasofiledoono07.06.2021,oi.e.,oafteroaboutotwoomonths.oo Theodelayocausedoinomovingotheoapplicationofororecallingoofotheostatement,o alsooremainsounexplained.ooo

17.o o Atotheocostooforepetition,oitoisowritolargeothatotheoapplicationoforo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-16-oooooooo o o withdrawaloofotheostatementosufferedoono10.04.2021oisoanoafterthoughtoandoao calculatedomove.oMoreover,otheorecordoshowsothatotheoappellant-husbandoiso habitualoofoaffectingoaocompromiseobeforeotheoCourtoandothereafter,obacko trackingotherefrom.oTheosameoisoevidentofromotheoorderodatedo10.04.2018o (AnnexureoP-4),owherebyotheoappellant-husbandohadoeffectedoaocompromiseo Ex.C-1owithotheorespondent-wifeobutosubsequentlyoresiledotherefrom,otherebyo heo failedo too honouro hiso commitment.o Noo litiganto cano beo allowedo too takeo judicialoproceedingsoinoaocasualomanner,oasohasobeenodoneobyotheoappellant-husband.oAopartyohavingotakingoaoconsciousostandobeforeotheoCourt,oremainso boundo byo hiso decisiono ando cannoto resileo therefromo unlesso specificallyo permittedobyotheostatutoryoprovisions.o

18.o o oAocorollaryoofotheoaboveodiscussionoisothatotheoimpugnedoordero datedo17.09.2021odoesonotosufferofromoanyoillegalityooroperversityowarrantingo interferenceoinoappeal.oResultantly,otheoinstantoappealobeingobereftoofomerit,o isodismissed.o FAO-1446-2023o

19.o o ThisoappealohasobeenopreferredobyotheowifeounderoSectiono19oofo theoActoofo1984,oaggrievedobyotheoorderodatedo13.03.2023opassedobyotheo learnedoPrincipaloJudge,oFamilyoCourt,oBhatinda,owherebyoheroapplicationo underoOrdero39oRuleso1oando2oCPC,ohasonotobeenoallowedoinototo,oasoprayed.o

20.o o Theoplaintiff-HemoLataoSharmaofiledoaosuitoagainstoherohusbando ando hiso employero department,o ono 23.09.2020,o seekingo theo hereinaftero extractedoreliefs.o o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-17-oooooooo o o "ApplicationounderoOrdero33oRuleo1oreadowithosectiono151oofo CPCoinoformaopauperisoasoindigentopersonsotoosueotheodefendanto underosectiono18oofoHinduoAdoptiono&oMaintenanceoActoforo recoveryo ofo maintenanceo allowance/permanento alimonyo @o Rs.30,000/-o pero montho too theo plaintiffo foro theo periodo ofo teno yearsowhichocomesooutotooRs.o36,00,000/-oandoforocreatingotheo chargeo ofo theo saido amounto alongwitho amounto ofo arrearso ofo maintenanceo allowanceo ofo Rs.o 8,69,512/-o ono theo serviceo benefitsoofotheodefendantowhooisoworkingoasoExciseo&oTaxationo Officer,o Rampurao Phul,o Distt:o Bathindao ando haso nowo beeno promotedo aso Commissionero ando iso goingo too retireo fromo theo serviceowithinoaofewomonths.o ANDo Suito foro Permanento Injunctiono foro restrainingo theo defendantso no.2to5ofromoreleasingotheoserviceobenefits/retirementobenefitso ofotheodefendantobeforeopaymentoofotheoaforesaidoamountoofo permanento alimonyo ofo Rs.o 36,00,000/-o ando theo outstandingoo dues/arrearso ofo maintenance,o allowanceo ofo Rs.o 8,69,512/-o approx.,o totallingo Rs.o 44,69,512/-o illegally,o arbitrarilyo ando detrimentalotootheorightsoandointerestoofotheoplaintiff."o o

21.o o InotheosupraosuitotheoplaintiffofiledoanoapplicationounderoOrdero39o ruleso1oando2oCPC,oono23.09.2020,oseekingotheohereinafteroextractedointerimo relief.o "Applicationounderoordero39oruleso1o&o2oreadowithosectiono151o ofoCPCoforograntoofoad-interimoinjunctionofororestrainingotheo respondentso No.2o too 5o fromo releasingo theo serviceo benefits/o retiremento benefitso ofo theo respondento beforeo paymento ofo theo aforesaidoamountoofopermanentoalimonyoofoRs.36oLacoandotheo outstandingo dues/o arrearso ofo maintenanceo allowanceo ofo Rs.8,69,512/-o approximately,o totalingo Rs.44,69,512/-illegally,o arbitrarilyo ando detrimentalo too theo rightso ando interesto ofo theo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-18-oooooooo o o applicant,otillofinalodisposaloofotheosuit."o o

22.o o Thatovideoorderodatedo05.05.2021,oanoexoparteoinjunctionoordero wasopassedobyotheoFamilyoCourt,owhichocameotoobeoimpugnedobeforeothiso Courto byo theo defendant-husbando byo wayo ofo CR-1433-2021.o Ino theo saido revisionopetition,othisoCourtovideoorderodatedo29.07.2022odirectedotheoofficialo respondentsotooreleaseoanoamountoofoRs.8,00,000/-oinofavouroofotheoplaintiff-wife.oUponotheosaidoamountohavingobeenotransferredotootheowifeoinoherobanko account,oCR-1433-2021owasowithdrawnobyotheohusbandoono09.09.2022.o

23.o o Theoapplicationoforoad-interimoinjunctionowasocontestedobyotheo husbandobyofilingoreplyoandouponoconsiderationooforivalosubmissions,otheo sameowasopartlyoallowedovideoimpugnedoorderodatedo13.03.2023,ooperativeo parto whereofo iso extractedo hereinafter.o o Theo learnedo Familyo Court,o aftero noticingothatomaintenanceostandsoawardedotootheoplaintiff-wifeoatotheorateoofo Rs.20,000/-operomonth,ovideoorderodatedo04.10.2017ounderotheoActoofo2005o andoorderodatedo07.09.2018ounderoSectiono125oCr.P.C.,oandorelyingoupono husband'sowillingnessoandoreadinessotoopayotheomaintenanceoamount,opassedo ordersofororeleaseoofotheosaidoamountotootheowife.ooTheopartoofotheoimpugnedo orderoregardingotheomaintenanceoamountoisothus,oconsensualoinonature.ooTheo husbando iso noto aggrievedo byo theo sameo ando neithero haso heo preferredo anyo appealobeforeothisoCourtothereagainstonorofiledocross-objectionsoinotheopresento appealobyotheowife.o "Duringo theo courseo ofo arguments,o theo respondento dido noto disputeo theo claimo ofo applicanto witho regardo too amounto ofo maintenanceoatotheorateoofoRs.20,000/-operomonthoawardedoino oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-19-oooooooo o o theo petitiono undero sectiono 125o Cr.PCo video ordero datedo

07.09.2018oandoalsooinotheopetitionounderoD.V..oActovideoordero datedo04.10.2017,oandoheoisoreadyotoopayomaintenanceoamounto toorespondentoaccordingly.oAsosuch,otheoremainingodueoamounto payableo@oRs.20,000/-operomonthoisoorderedotoobeoreleasedoino favouroofotheoapplicantooutoofotheoservice/oretirementobenefitsoofo respondento No.lo ando aftero deductingo theo saido amount,o respondento No.2o too 5o areo directedo too releaseo theo remainingo amountoofoservice/oretirementobenefitsooforespondentoNo.1oino hiso favour.o Application,o ino hand,o standso disposedo ofo accordingly."o o

24.o o Theoappellantoinothisocase,oviz.oHemaoLatao(plaintiff),ohasourgedo thatodespiteotheoordersoforomaintenanceohavingobeenopassedoinoherofavourobyo theocompetentocourts,otheohusbandohasoavoidedopaymentoofoanyoamountotoo heroandosheohadotootakeorecourseotooproceedingsofororecoveringotheoarrearsoofo maintenance.o o Ito iso hero pleadedo caseo thato theo husbando iso tryingo too takeo voluntaryoretirementobeforeohisodueodateoofosuperannuationoandoisoalsootryingo too fleeo fromo theo jurisdictiono ofo theo Familyo Courto concernedo aftero withdrawingotheoentireoamountoofohisoterminalobenefits.oSeekingotooprotecto heroclaim,osheohasoprayedoforocreatingoaochargeouponotheoserviceobenefitsoofo theohusband.o

25.o o Learnedocounseloforotheohusbandohasodefendedotheoimpugnedo orderoandosubmitsothatotheohusbandohadoexpressedohisoreadinessotoopayotheo maintenanceoamountotootheowife,owhichohasosinceobeenoorderedotoobeoreleasedo tooheroandosheohasonoorightooverotheobalanceoamountoofohisoservice/retiralo benefits.oMoreover,otheoclaimounderoSectiono18oofotheoHinduoAdoptionoando oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-20-oooooooo o o MaintenanceoActoisoyetotoobeoadjudicatedoupon.ooItoisofurtherourgedothatotheo suitoforocreatingochargeouponotheopropertyoofotheohusbandoforomaintenanceo awardedounderotheoActoofo2005oasowelloasoCr.P.C.,oisomisconceivedoandonoto sustainableo ino law.o Theo plaintiff-wifeo haso alreadyo invokedo theo competento jurisdiction,oseekingorecoveryoofoarrearsoofomaintenanceoandoevenootherwiseo sheocannotosimultaneouslyoseekotwooremedies.oItoisofurtherosubmittedothatotheo husbandohadosinceoretiredoono31.10.2021oandohisoserviceobenefitsohaveonoto beenoreleasedodueotootheoimpugnedoorderohavingobeenostayedobyothisoCourto videoorderodatedo27.03.2023.o

26.o o Havingo heardo botho theo sideso ando giveno ouro anxiouso considerationouponotheorespectiveosubmissionsoadvanced,oweofindothatothereo iso substanceo ino theo submissionso ofo theo husband.o Ao perusalo ofo theo reliefso claimedoinotheosuitowouldoshowothatotheyoareoinotwooparts.oFirstly,otheoclaimo ofo theo plaintiff-wifeo foro maintenanceo undero Sectiono 18o ofo theo Hinduo Adoptiono ando Maintenanceo Act;o ando secondly,o foro permanento injunctiono fromoreleasingotheoserviceobenefits/retirementobenefitsoofotheohusbandobeforeo paymento ofo permanento alimonyo ando arrearso ofo maintenance.o Theo reliefo soughtoasoad-interimoinjunctionoisotheosameoasoprayedothroughotheosecondo partoofotheoreliefoinotheomainosuit.ooItoisotriteolawothatointerimoreliefoshouldonoto beoinotheonatureoofotheomainoreliefosoughtoinotheocase.oHowever,othereoiso anotheroaspectothatoneedsotoobeoexamined.oTheoclaimedoamountsosoughtotoobeo securedoareo(i)othatoareoyetotoobeodeterminedoinotheopresentosuitoando(ii)othoseo whichowereoawardedounderotheoActoofo2005oandoCr.P.C.,orespectively.oo

27.o o Ito iso noto disputedo thato amounto ofo maintenanceo ato theo rateo ofo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-21-oooooooo o o Rs.20,000/-ohasobeenoawardedotootheowifeobothounderoSectiono125oCr.P.C.o andotheoActoofo2005.oTheohusbandohasoclaimedothatotheoaforesaidoamountoiso beingoregularlyopaidoandoheohasofurtheroexpresslyostatedoinohisoaffidavitofiledo ono01.12.2022,obeforeotheocourtobelow,othatoheoisoalsooreadyotooclearotheo arrearsoofomaintenanceobutoheoisounableotoodooso,oasohisoserviceobenefitsohaveo beenowithheld.oPursuantotootheomakingoofotheoaforesaidoorders,otheoplaintiff-wifeo (appellanto ino thiso appeal)o haso alreadyo institutedo proceedingso foro enforcingotheosameoandofororecoveryoofoarrearsoofomaintenance.oTheorelevanto provisionsoforotheosaidopurpose,obothounderotheoActoofo2005oandoCr.P.C.,oareo extractedohereinafterofororeference.o ProtectionoofoWomenofromoDomesticoViolenceoAct,o2005o

20.o Monetaryo reliefs.—(1)o Whileo disposingo ofo ano applicationounderosub-sectiono(1)oofosectiono12,theoMagistrateo mayodirectotheorespondentotoopayomonetaryoreliefotoomeetotheo expensesoincurredoandolossesosufferedobyotheoaggrievedopersono ando anyo childo ofo theo aggrievedo persono aso ao resulto ofo theo domesticoviolenceoandosuchoreliefomayoinclude,obutonotolimitedo to,―oo

(a)otheolossoofoearnings;oo

(b)otheomedicaloexpenses;oo

(c)otheolossocausedodueotootheodestruction,odamageo oro removalo ofo anyo propertyo fromo theo controlo ofo theo aggrievedoperson;oandoo

(d)o theo maintenanceo foro theo aggrievedo persono aso welloasoherochildren,oifoany,oincludingoanoorderounderooro inoadditionotooanoorderoofomaintenanceounderosectiono125o ofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973o(2oofo1974)ooro anyootherolawoforotheotimeobeingoinoforce.oo

(2)oTheomonetaryoreliefograntedounderothisosectionoshallobeo adequate,ofairoandoreasonableoandoconsistentowithotheostandardo ofolivingotoowhichotheoaggrievedopersonoisoaccustomed.oo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-22-oooooooo o o

(3)o Theo Magistrateo shallo haveo theo powero too ordero ano appropriateo lumpo sumo paymento oro monthlyo paymentso ofo maintenance,oasotheonatureoandocircumstancesoofotheocaseomayo require.oo

(4)o Theo Magistrateo shallo sendo ao copyo ofo theo ordero foro monetaryoreliefomadeounderosub-sectiono(1)otootheopartiesotootheo applicationoandotootheoinochargeoofotheopoliceostationowithinotheo localolimitsoofowhoseojurisdictionotheorespondentoresides.oo

(5)oTheorespondentoshallopayotheomonetaryoreliefograntedo tootheoaggrievedopersonowithinotheoperiodospecifiedoinotheoordero underosub-sectiono(1).oo

(6)oUponotheofailureoonotheopartoofotheorespondentotoomakeo paymento ino termso ofo theo ordero undero sub-sectiono (1),o theo Magistrateo mayo directo theo employero oro ao debtoro ofo theo respondent,o too directlyo payo too theo aggrievedo persono oro too depositowithotheocourtoaoportionoofotheowagesoorosalariesoorodebto dueotoooroaccruedotootheocreditoofotheorespondent,owhichoamounto mayobeoadjustedotowardsotheomonetaryoreliefopayableobyotheo respondent.o o CodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973o

125.o Ordero foro maintenanceo ofo wives,o childreno ando parents.—(1)ooxxxoxxxoxxxo

(2)ooxxxoxxxoxxxo

(3)oIfoanyopersonosooorderedofailsowithoutosufficientocauseo toocomplyowithotheoorder,oanyosuchoMagistrateomay,oforoeveryo breachoofotheoorder,oissueoaowarrantoforolevyingotheoamountodueo inotheomanneroprovidedoforolevyingofines,oandomayosentenceo sucho person,o foro theo wholeo oro anyo parto ofo eacho month'so allowanceoforotheomaintenanceoorotheointerimomaintenanceoando expensesoofoproceeding,oasotheocaseomayobe,oremainingounpaido afterotheoexecutionoofotheowarrant,otooimprisonmentoforoaotermo whicho mayo extendo too oneo montho oro untilo paymento ifo soonero made:oo Providedothatonoowarrantoshallobeoissuedoforotheorecoveryo ofo anyo amounto dueo undero thiso sectiono unlesso applicationo beo madeotootheoCourtotoolevyosuchoamountowithinoaoperiodoofooneo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-23-oooooooo o o yearofromotheodateoonowhichoitobecameodue:oo Providedofurtherothatoifosuchopersonooffersotoomaintainohiso wifeoonoconditionoofoherolivingowithohim,oandosheorefusesotooliveo withohim,osuchoMagistrateomayoconsideroanyogroundsooforefusalo statedo byo her,o ando mayo makeo ano ordero undero thiso sectiono notwithstandingosuchooffer,oifoheoisosatisfiedothatothereoisojusto groundoforosoodoing.oo Explanation.―Ifoaohusbandohasocontractedomarriageowitho anotherowomanoorokeepsoaomistress,oitoshallobeoconsideredotoobeo justogroundoforohisowife'sorefusalotooliveowithohim.o xxxxo xxxxo

421.oWarrantoforolevyoofofine.—(1)oWhenoanooffendero haso beeno sentencedo too payo ao fine,o theo Courto passingo theo sentenceomayotakeoactionoforotheorecoveryoofotheofineoinoeithero orobothoofotheofollowingoways,othatoisotoosay,oitomay―oo

(a)oissueoaowarrantoforotheolevyoofotheoamountobyo attachmentoandosaleoofoanyomovableopropertyobelongingo tootheooffender;oo

(b)oissueoaowarrantotootheoCollectoroofotheodistrict,o authorisingohimotoorealiseotheoamountoasoarrearsoofolando revenueofromotheo movableooroimmovableoproperty,o oro both,oofotheodefaulter:oo Providedo that,o ifo theo sentenceo directso thato ino defaulto ofo paymentoofotheofine,otheooffenderoshallobeoimprisoned,oandoifo suchooffenderohasoundergoneotheowholeoofosuchoimprisonmento inodefault,onooCourtoshalloissueosuchowarrantounless,oforospecialo reasonsotoobeorecordedoinowriting,oitoconsidersoitonecessaryosootoo do,oorounlessoitohasomadeoanoorderoforotheopaymentoofoexpenseso orocompensationooutoofotheofineounderosectiono357.oo

(2)oTheoStateoGovernmentomayomakeorulesoregulatingotheo manneroinowhichowarrantsounderoclauseo(a)oofosub-sectiono(1)o areotoobeoexecuted,oandoforotheosummaryodeterminationoofoanyo claimsomadeobyoanyopersonootherothanotheooffenderoinorespectoofo anyopropertyoattachedoinoexecutionoofosuchowarrant.oo

(3)o Whereo theo Courto issueso ao warranto too theo Collectoro underoclauseo(b)oofosub-sectiono(1),otheoCollectoroshallorealiseo theoamountoinoaccordanceowithotheolaworelatingotoorecoveryoofo arrearsoofolandorevenue,oasoifosuchowarrantowereoaocertificateo issuedounderosucholaw:oo Providedothatonoosuchowarrantoshallobeoexecutedobyotheo arrestoorodetentionoinoprisonoofotheooffender.oo

422.oEffectoofosuchowarrant.—Aowarrantoissuedoundero clauseo(a)oofosub-sectiono(1)oofosectiono421obyoanyoCourtomayo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-24-oooooooo o o beoexecutedowithinotheolocalojurisdictionoofosuchoCourt,oandoito shalloauthoriseotheoattachmentoandosaleoofoanyosuchopropertyo outsideosuchojurisdiction,owhenoitoisoendorsedobyotheoDistricto Magistrateo withino whoseo localo jurisdictiono sucho propertyo iso found.oo

423.oWarrantoforolevyoofofineoissuedobyoaoCourtoinoanyo territoryo too whicho thiso Codeo doeso noto extend.—o Notwithstandingo anythingo containedo ino thiso Codeo oro ino anyo otherolawoforotheotimeobeingoinoforce,owhenoanooffenderohaso beeno sentencedo too payo ao fineo byo ao Criminalo Courto ino anyo territoryo too whicho thiso Codeo doeso noto extendo ando theo Courto passingo theo sentenceo issueso ao warranto too theo Collectoro ofo ao districto ino theo territorieso too whicho thiso Codeo extends,o authorisingohimotoorealiseotheoamountoasoifoitowereoanoarrearoofo landorevenue,osuchowarrantoshallobeodeemedotoobeoaowarranto issuedounderoclauseo(b)oofosub-sectiono(1)oofosectiono421obyoao Courto ino theo territorieso too whicho thiso Codeo extends,o ando theo provisionso ofo sub-sectiono (3)o ofo theo saido sectiono aso too theo executionoofosuchowarrantoshalloapplyoaccordingly.o o

28.o o oAoperusaloofotheosupraostatutoryoprovisionsowouldoshowothatotheo orderso awardingo maintenanceo amounto undero theo Acto ofo 2005o oro Cr.P.C.,o couldoonlyobeoenforcedoinotheomanneroprescribedohereinoaboveoandothus,otheo pleao ofo theo plaintiff-wifeo seekingo too simultaneouslyo createo ao chargeo overo service/o retiremento benefitso ofo theo husband,o iso misconceived.o o However,o keepingoinoviewotheocategoricostandotakenobyotheohusbandoinohisoreplyotootheo adointerimoinjunctionoapplicationoandoalsoohavingoexpressedohisoreadinessotoo payotheoarrearsoofomaintenanceoamountoofohisoownovolition,obeforeotheocourto below,oweodeemoitoappropriateonototoointerfereoinothatoaspectoofotheoimpugnedo order,oinoexerciseoofoappellateojurisdiction.ooMoreover,otakingorecourseotootheo provisionsoofoOrdero39oRuleso1oando2oCPC,otoosecureotheosumsoclaimedobyo theoplaintiff-wifeoasopermanentoalimony/maintenance,owhichoareoyetotoobeo determinedoinotheosuit,oisoalsooill-conceived.oTheoprovisionsoforograntoofoado interimoinjunctionocannotobeoequatedowithothoseoenshrinedounderoOrdero38o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-25-oooooooo o o CiviloProcedureoCode,opertainingotooattachmentobeforeojudgment.oo

29.o o Ino theo lighto ofo theo aboveo discussion,o ino summa,o theo instanto appealofailsoandoisoresultantly,odismissed.ooo

30.o o Nooorderoasotoocosts.o

31.o o Itois,ohowever,oclarifiedothatotheodismissaloofotheoinstantoappealo wouldonotoprejudiceotheorightoofotheowifeotooseekoheroappropriateoremedy,oifo sooadvised,obeoitoforoenforcementoofotheoordersograntingomaintenanceooroforo attachmento beforeo judgment,o regardingo hero claimso thato areo yeto too beo adjudicatedoinotheosuit,oinoaccordanceowitholaw.o TA-184-2023o

32.o o Thiso transfero applicationo haso beeno preferredo byo Hemo Latao Sharmaoseekingotransferoofocivilosuitotitledoaso'HemoLataovs.oRishioKumaroando others'o fromo theo Courto ofo Sh.o Himanshuo Singh,o Additionalo Civilo Judgeo (SenioroDivision),oSirsa,otoosomeootheroCourtoofocompetentojurisdictionoato Bathinda.oo

33.o o TheoapplicantohereinofiledotheoaboveocaptionedocivilosuitoinoAprilo 2021,oseekingotheohereinafteroextractedoreliefs:-o o "Suitoforodeclarationotootheoeffectothatotheoallegedo adoptionodeedono.o284odatedo25.1.2016oexecutedobetweeno theodefendantono.1oando theodefendantso no.2&3oregardingo theoadoptionoofotheodefendantono.o4obyotheodefendantono.1o fromotheodefendantsono.3&4oisototallyowrong,oillegalonullo ando void,o withouto anyo competence,o withouto adoptingo properoprocedureoasoperolaw,oresultoofofraudocommittedobyo theo defendantso witho theo plaintiffo ando theo sameo haso beeno broughtointooexistenceobyotheodefendantsoinocollusionoando connivanceowithoeachootherotoocauseowrongfulolossotootheo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-26-oooooooo o o plaintiffoandotoodepriveotheoplaintiffofromotheopropertiesoofo theo defendanto no.o lo aso wello aso serviceo benefitso ofo theo defendanto no.lo whoo iso workingo aso Exciseo ando Taxationo Officeroandoasosuchotheoallegedoadoptionodeedoisoineffectiveo andoinoperativeoasoagainstotheorightsoofotheoplaintiffoandotheo sameoisoliableotoobeosetoasideoandofurtherodeclarationotootheo effectothatotheodefendantono.4,owhooisoaobiologicalosonoofo theodefendantsono.o2o&o3,ohasoabsolutelyonooconcernowitho theodefendantono.loandotheomovable/oimmovableopropertieso ofotheodefendantono.loonotheobasisoofotheoallegedoadoptiono deedono.284odatedo25.1.2016.oo ANDo o Suito foro permanento injunctiono foro restrainingo theo defendantono.lofromotransferringohisomovableooroimmovableo properties,ostandingoinotheonameoofotheodefendantono.o1,oando alsooserviceoobenefitsoofotheodefendantono.o1,oinofavouroofo theodefendantono.o4oillegally,oarbitrarilyoandodetrimentalotoo theo rightso ando interesto ofo theo plaintiffo whoo iso ao legallyo weddedowifeoofotheodefendantono.o1."o o

34.o o Ito iso pleadedo ino theo transfero applicationo thato theo applicanto iso presentlyo residingo ato Bathindao foro theo lasto abouto 10o yearso ando haso matrimonialodisputeowithoherohusbando(respondentoNo.1oherein).oItoisofurthero averredothatootherolitigationoisoalreadyopendingobetweenotheoapplicantoandohero husbandoatoBathinda.oRespondentoNo.1,oafterosuperannuatingofromoserviceoiso residingoatoSirsa,owhichoisohisohomeotown.oTheoapplicantoapprehendsodangero tooherolifeoatotheohandsooforespondentoNo.1oandohisofamilyomembersohavingo beenoopenlyothreatenedowithodireoconsequences,othus,osheoisounableotoopursueo theoaboveocaptionedosuit.oTheoapplicantohasoappearedoinopersonoandourgedo thatoitoisoveryoinconvenientoforoherotootravelofromoBathindaotooSirsaotoopursueo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-27-oooooooo o o theomatteroand,othusopraysothatotheopresentoapplicationobeoallowedoandotheo aboveocaptionedosuitobeotransferredotooaoCourtoofocompetentojurisdictionoato Bathinda.oo

35.o o Perusaloofotheorecordoshowsothatotheoapplicantohasobeenopursuingo otherolitigationoasowellobeforeothisoCourt,otwooofowhichoareobeingodisposedoofo byothisocommonojudgment.oInoanoappealopreferredobyotheoapplicantobeingo No.FAO-1446-2023,oaocoordinateobenchovideoorderodatedo24.07.2023ohado directedotheoregistryoofothisoCourtotooattachotheopresentotransferoapplicationo witho theo saido appeal.o Learnedo counselo foro respondento No.1,o whoo areo appearingoinotheoconnectedoappeals,ohaveosubmittedothatotheopleasoraisedobyo theoapplicantoareoincorrectoandonotosustainableoinolaw.oItohasobeenopointedoouto thatotheoaboveocaptionedosuitowasoinstitutedoono23.04.2021oandotheoissueso wereoframedovideoorderodatedo05.09.2022.oThereafter,otheotrialoisopendingoforo plaintiff'soevidence.oItoisofurtherosubmittedothatosinceotheoinstitutionoofotheo suitoasomanyoaso24ohearingsohadotakenoplaceouptoo30.10.2023,owhereafter,otheo proceedingso wereo adjournedo ino deferenceo too theo ordero datedo 12.10.2023,o passedo byo theo learnedo singleo Judgeo ino theo instanto transfero application.o Moreover,oasoperotheoownopleadingsoofotheoapplicant,otheoentireocauseoofo actionohasoaccruedotootheoapplicantoatoSirsaoandoallotheodefendantsoareoalsoo residingoatoSirsa.oTheonecessaryocorollaryoisothatoallotheomaterialoevidenceo relevantotootheolisoisoalsooatoSirsa.oo

36.o o Weohaveoheardotheoapplicantoandotheocounseloforotheohusband-respondentoNo.1,owhoohaveoenteredoappearanceoinotheoconnectedoappealsoando perusedotheorecord.oo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-28-oooooooo o o

37.o o Noodoubt,oinoaoplethoraoofojudgments,oitohasobeenoheldothatoino mattersorelatingotootransferoofolitigation,otheoconvenienceoofoaowoman,ooughto toobeoconsidered.oInoAninditaoDasovs.oSrijitoDas,oreportedoino(2006)o9oSCCo 197,otheoApexoCourtoobservedothatonumberoofotransferopetitionsoareofiledobyo womeno takingo advantageo ofo theo leniencyo showno byo theo saido Court.o Ito iso furtheroobservedothereinothatoitowasoclearothatoleniencyoofotheoSupremeoCourto wasobeingomisusedobyowomenoandoheld,othatotheoCourtoisonoworequiredotoo consideroeachopetitionoonoitsomerit.oTheosaidoviewohasosinceobeenofollowedoino aonumberoofocases.oAosimilaroviewohasobeenotakenobyoaosingleoBenchoofothiso CourtoinoTA-1023-2023otitledoasoManpreetoKauroandoanotherovs.oDavindero Singh,odecidedoono07.08.2024,osinceoreportedoino2024oNCPHHCo101765.o Thus,othereoisonoodisputeotootheopropositionothatotheoconvenienceoofoaowoman,o oughtotoobeoconsidered,obutotheosameoisonotoaothumboruleoandoeachocaseohasotoo beodecided,okeepingoinoviewoitsofactualomatrix.oo

38.o o Inotheopresentocase,oitowouldobeonoteworthyothatotheoapplicanto hasobeenopursuingoherolitigationobeforeothisoCourtoinoperson.oSheohasobeeno regularlyocommutingofromoBathindaotooChandigarhotoocontestoherocases,oando haso nevero raisedo anyo grouseo ono thato count.o Theo distanceo ofo theo Courtso betweenoSirsaoandoBathindaoiso98okms,owhereasotheodistanceofromoBathindao too Chandigarho iso 230o kms.o o Thus,o theo distanceo ofo theo Courtso fromo theo residenceoofotheoapplicantowouldonotobeoaovalidoconsiderationoinotheopresento case,owhileodecidingotheopresentotransferoapplication.oo

39.o o Moreover,otheoapplicantohasonotoplacedoonorecordoanyomaterialo tooreflectouponotheoeventsothatohaveocausedoherotooapprehendothreatofromo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-29-oooooooo o o respondentoNo.1,oexceptoforotheobaldostatementomadeoinotheoinstantotransfero application.oThereoisonoomaterialoonorecordotoosubstantiateotheoaforesaidoplea.o Theoapplicantohasoalsoonotoreferredotooanyoinstanceoofomisadventureoorothreato accostedobyoherohusbando(respondentoNo.1oherein),osooasotooevenoremotelyo substantiateotheoaforesaidogroundoonowhichotransferohasobeenosought.oo

40.o o Ito mayo alsoo beo noticedo thato posto COVID-19o pandemic,o theo manneroinowhicholitigationoisobeingoconductedohasoundergoneoaoseaochange.o Aoconsciousoeffortohasobeenomadeobyoalloconcernedowithoadministrationoofo justiceotooensureothatoaccessotooCourtsoisomadeoavailableotooeveryocitizen,oato theirodoorostepothroughovideooconferencing.oTheoApexoCourtoinoSanthiniovs.o Vijayao Venketesh,o reportedo ino (2018)o 1o SCCo 1,o haso giveno sufficiento guidanceoasofaroasoappearanceoofotheopartiesothroughovideooconferencingoiso concerned.oEvenothisoCourtoinoexerciseoofopowersounderoArticleso225oando227o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo Indiao haso framedo ruleso titledo aso 'Ruleso foro Videoo Conferencingo foro Courts',o whicho haveo beeno notifiedo ono 10.12.2021.o Accordingly,otheosameohaveobeenoincorporatedoinoPartoHoofoChaptero1oofotheo Ruleso ando Orderso ofo Punjabo ando Haryanao Higho Court,o Volumeo V.o Video correctionoslipoNo.82,oRules/II.D4odatedo10.12.2021,otheosaidoRulesohaveo alsoo beeno incorporatedo foro subordinateo Courtso ino theo Stateso ofo Punjab,o HaryanaoandoU.T.oChandigarh.oThus,oinoviewoofotheosame,otheoapplicantoiso notorequiredotoophysicallyobeopresentobeforeotheoCourtsoatoSirsaoonoeachoando everyodateoandosheocanocauseoheroappearanceoandoconvenientlyoproceedowitho theocaseothroughovideooconferencing.oo

41.o o Weohaveogivenothoughtfuloconsiderationotootheovariousojudicialo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-30-oooooooo o o pronouncementsoregardingotransferoofolitigationoandotheofactualomatrixoofotheo presentocaseoandoareonotoinclinedotooacceptotheopresentotransferoapplication.oo

42.oo o Inotheolightoofotheoaforesaidoobservations,onoocaseoisomadeoouto forotransferotheocivilosuitoinstitutedobyotheoapplicantoherein.oAccordingly,otheo transferoapplicationobeingobereftoofomeritoandoisoherebyodismissed.oo

43.o o Theocumulativeoresultoofotheoaforesaidoisothatobothotheoappealso andotheotransferoapplicationostandodismissed.oo

44.o o Pendingoapplications,oifoany,oalsoostandodisposedoof.oo o o o o o oooooooooo(SURESHWARoTHAKUR)o oooooooo(VIKASoSURI)o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooJUDGEo ooooooooooooJUDGEo o Mayo16,o2025o o sumit.ko o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo:o Yeso/oNoo o o WhetheroReportableo:o o Yeso/oNoo o o