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2010 Supreme(SC) 137

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Aftab Alam and Dr. B.S. Chauhan, JJ.
MANISH GOEL
Versus
ROHINI GOEL
(Special Leave Petition (C) No. 2954 of 2010)
Decided on : FEBRUARY 5, 2010

Headnote:A) CONSTITUTION OF INDIA : Art.142 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT : S.23 HINDU MARRIAGE ACT : S.13 (A) INDIAN PENAL CODE : S.34, S.406, S.498(A):- After hotly contest matrimonial disputes against each other the estranged couple settled their disputes out of court and in pursuance of it filed a petition for divorce under mutual consent along with a petition to dispense with the minimum statutory period of six months gestation period. Accepting the divorce petition, the petition for dispensing with the statutory period of six months is however dismissed as it has no power to dispense with the statutory period. Since the Supreme Court has the power under Article 142 of the Constitution to give such directions as may be necessary to do complete justice between the parties, the parties filed this petition in this court. Held the extra-ordinary power vested under Article 142 of the Constitution cannot be used for circumventing the statutory regulation and stipulation like the present one and no extra-ordinary circumstances exist in the present case to press such a power. Also held that counsels having failed to even show that the provision is only directory, but not mandatory, the parties cannot allowed to short circuit the normal course of litigation in the form of appeals or revisions.

       

       

       

ORDER

DR. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.

1. This case reveals a very sorry state of affairs that the parties, merely being highly qualified, have claimed even to be higher and above the law, and have a vested right to use, misuse and abuse the process of the Court. Petitioner, the husband, possesses the qualifications of CA, CS and ICWA, while the proforma respondent-wife is a Doctor (M.D., Radio-Diagnosis) by profession. The parties got married on 23rd July, 2008 in Delhi. Their marriage ran into rough weather and relations between them became strained immediately after the marriage and they are living separately since 24.10.2008. Petitioner-husband filed a Matrimonial Case under Section 12 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (hereinafter called as "the Act") for annulment of marriage before a competent Court at Gurgaon. The respondent-wife, Smt. Rohini Goel filed a petition under Section 12 r/w Section 23 of the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 before the competent Court at Delhi. An FIR was also lodged by her against petitioner-husband and his family members under Sections 498-A, 406 and 34 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 at PS Janakpuri, New Delhi.

2. It is stated at the Bar that by persuasion of the family members and friends, the parties entered into a compromise and prepared a Memorandum of Understanding dated 13.11.2009 in the proceedings pending before the Mediation Centre, Delhi by which they agreed on terms and conditions incorporated therein, to settle all their disputes and also for dissolution of their marriage. The parties filed an application under Section 13-B(1) of the Act before the Family Court, i.e. ADJ-04 (West) Delhi seeking divorce by mutual consent. The said HMA No.456 of 2009 came before the Court and it recorded the statement of parties on 16.11.2009. The parties moved another HMA No. 457 of 2009 to waive the statutory period of six months in filing the second petition. However, the Court rejected the said application vide order dated 1.12.2009 observing that the Court was not competent to waive the required statutory period of six months under the Act and such a waiver was permissible only under the directions of this Court as held by this Court in Anil Kumar Jain v. Maya Jain (2009) 10 SCC 415. Hence, this petition.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that there is no prohibition in law in entertaining the petition under Article 136 of the Constitution against the order of the Family Court and in such an eventuality, there was no occasion for the petitioner to approach the High Court as the relief sought herein cannot be granted by any court other than this Court. Thus, the petitioner has a right to approach this Court against the order of the Family Court and the petitioner cannot be non-suited on this ground alone.

4. Article 136 of the Constitution enables this Court, in its discretion to grant special leave to appeal from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence or order in any cause or matter passed or made by any court or tribunal in the territory of India. Undoubtedly, under Article 136 in the widest possible terms, a plenary jurisdiction exercisable on assuming appellate jurisdiction has been conferred upon this Court. However, it is an extra-ordinary jurisdiction vested by the Constitution in the Court with implicit trust and faith and thus, extra ordinary care and caution has to be observed while exercising this jurisdiction. There is no vested right of a party to approach this Court for the exercise of such a vast discretion, however, such a course can be resorted to when this court feels that it is so warranted to eradicate injustice. Such a jurisdiction is to be exercised by the consideration of justice and call of duty. The power has to be exercised with great care and due consideration but while exercising the power, the order should be passed taking into consideration all binding precedents otherwise such an order would create problems in the future. The object of keeping such a wide power wit

















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