SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

1984 Supreme(SC) 205

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
S. MURTAZA FAZAL ALI AND SABYASACHI MUKHARJI, JJ.
Smt. Saroj Rani, Appellant
Versus
Sudarshan Kumar Chadha, Respondent.
Civil Appeal No. 187 of 1983
Decided on 8-8-1984.

Advocates:
E.C.AGARWAL, H.VAHI, MIRA AGRAWAL, R.C.MISHRA, R.K.GARG, RAJIV SHARMA

Headnote:SECTION 9 OF HINDU MARRIAGE ACT, 1955 - SERIOUS AND FATAL MISTAKE IN PLEADING#23;NO SCOPE FOR AMENDMENT

       -in the case of Saroj Rani v. Sudarshan Kumar Chadha, AIR 1984 SC 1562, the definite case of the wife was that after the decree for restitution of conjugal rights, the husband and wife cohabited for two days. The ground now sought to be urged is that the husband wanted the wife to have a decree for judicial separation by some kind of a trap and then not to cohabit with her and thereafter obtain this decree of divorce this would be opposed to the facts alleged in the defence by the wife. Therefore quite apart from the fact that there was no pleading which is a serious and fatal mistake, there is no scope of giving any opportunity of amending the pleadings at this stage permitting the wife to make an inconsistent case.

Judgement Key Points

Key Points: - A consent decree for restitution of conjugal rights is not automatically collusive and does not necessarily bar a subsequent divorce petition (!) (!) . - Section 23(1)(a) disentitles a party only if they take advantage of their own wrong or disability, which requires clear factual allegations and was not established in this case (!) (!) . - The remedy of restitution of conjugal rights under Section 9 is enforceable through attachment of property for wilful disobedience and serves as an aid to prevent breakdown of marriage (!) (!) . - The validity of Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act was examined, with the majority view upholding its constitutionality on the basis of the Delhi High Court's reasoning (!) (!) (!) . - The court directed continued maintenance for the wife and daughter after the divorce, subject to future modification based on proper materials (!) . - The appeal was dismissed with specific directions regarding maintenance payments (!) (!) .

What is the effect of a consent decree for restitution of conjugal rights on a subsequent divorce petition?

What are the grounds for disentitling a party to a decree for restitution of conjugal rights under Section 23(1)(a)?

What is the scope of the remedy of restitution of conjugal rights under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act?


JUDGMENT

SABYASACHI MUKHARJI, J.:— The parties herein were married at Julludur City according to Hindu Vedic rites on or about 24th January, 1975. The first daughter of the marriage Menka was born on 4th January, 1976. On 28th February, 1977 second daughter Guddi was born. It is alleged that 16th May, 1977 was the last day of cohabitation by the parties. It is alleged that on 16th May, 1977, the respondent-husband turned the appellant out of his house and withdrew himself from her society. The second daughter unfortunately expired in the house of the respondent/father on 6th August, 1977. On l7th October, 1977, the wife-appellant filed a suit against the husband/respondent herein under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 hereinafter referred to as the said Act for restitution of conjugal rights.

2. In view of the argument now sought to be advanced, it is necessary to refer to the said petition. In the said petition, the wife had set out the history of the marriage as hereinbefore briefly mentioned and alleged several mal-treatments both by the husband as well as by her in-laws and thereafter claimed decree for restitution of conjugal rights. On 21st March, 1978, the learned Sub-Judge 1st Class passed an order granting Rs. 185/-per month as maintenance pendente lite and Rs. 300/- as the litigation expenses. On 28th March, 1978, a consent decree was passed by the learned Sub-Judge 1st Class for restitution of conjugal rights. It may be mentioned that on the petition of the wife for restitution of conjugal rights, the husband/respondent appeared and filed his written statement admitting therein the factum of marriage between the parties but denied the fact that the respondent had ever made any demand from the petitioner as alleged or had ever disliked her or had withdrawn from her society or turned her out from his house as alleged by the wife-petitioner in her petition for restitution of conjugal rights. The respondent thereafter made a statement in the Court that the application of the petitioner under Section 9 of the said Act be granted and decree thereof be passed. Accordingly the learned Sub-Judge 1st Class on 28th March, 1978 passed the decree for the restitution of conjugal rights between the parties. It was alleged by the petitioner-wife that the appellant had gone to the house of the respondent and lived with him for two days as husband and wife. This fact has been disbelieved by all the courts. The courts have come to the conclusion and that conclusion is not challenged before us that there has been no cohabitation after the passing of the decree for restitution of conjugal rights.

3. On 19th April, 1979, the respondent/husband filed a petition under Section 13 of the said Act against the appellant for divorce on the ground that one year had passed from the date of getting the decree for restitution of conjugal rights, but no actual cohabitation had taken place between the parties, The appellant filed her reply to the said petition. The categorical case in reply of the appellant was that it was incorrect that after passing of the decree, there has been no restitution of conjugal rights between the parties, positive case of the appellant was that after passing of the decree, the wife was taken to the house of the husband by the parents of the wife after one month of the decree and that the husband kept the wife in his house for two days and she was again turned out. It was further alleged that the wife had filed an application under Section 28-A of the said Act in the court of Sub-Judge, 1st Class, Julludur on 22nd January, 1979 with the request that the husband should be directed to comply with the decree passed against him under Section 9 of the said Act and the application was pending. at the time when the reply was filed by the wife to the petition for divorce.

4. The learned District Judge on 15th October, 1979 dismissed the petition of the husband for divorce. The learned Judge framed two issues, one was whethe


























Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top