2001 Supreme(AP) 1163
Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : V.V.S.RAO
Snehalatha - Appellant
Versus
S.Ramakrishna Reddy - Respondent
Decided On : 10-05-01
Subject
Transfer of Matrimonial Cases - Transfer of Divorce Petition
Act Referred
Headnote
Hindu law - Hindu marriage Act, 1955 - Section 13 (1) (ia) - Civil Procedure Code, 1908 - Section 24 –Jurisdiction - Petition dowry - Seeking decree to annul and dissolve marriage between petitioner and respondent - Prays this Court to transfer original petition being on file of Court of judge Family Court to Court of Judge Family court - Marriage between them solemnized on village West Godavari District - After that petitioner and respondent admittedly set up their matrimonial home in Hyderabad It is alleged by petitioner that respondent ill-treated her on ground that she did not bring sufficient dowry by reason of which suffered physical and mental harassment in one way or another - Respondent s parents are permanent residents of Mandal, West District which is very close - It is not only convenient if the o. P is transferred to Vijayawada and same would not cause any inconvenience to respondent whereas if O. P. is tried in Hyderabad would have to make frequent trips to Hyderabad - Therefore she prayed for transfer of O. P - Held, It is not denied before this Court that marriage was solemnized at West District and the parties last resided at Hyderabad - It is also not disputed that trial is not yet commenced at Family Court Hyderabad - Petitioner has to necessarily travel either alone or with male company be it her father or brother whether trial is at Hyderabad -Therefore subject meeting her expenditure she cannot be said to have any hardship - On other hand admittedly respondent/husband is a consultant in his field and if he is made to travel for purpose of case it would certainly cause prejudice to his job - Be that as it may at this stage no credence can be given to statements made by respondent/ husband in his affidavit that one maternal uncle of petitioner and his business partner threatened him - These matters have to be gone into by concerned Family Court – Petition disposed (Para 18)
( 2 ) THE necessary facts in brief are as follows: The petitioner is wife of respondent. The marriage between them solemnized on 13-10-1995 at Gopalapuram village, West Godavari District. After that, the petitioner and the respondent admittedly set up their matrimonial home in Hyderabad. It is alleged by the petitioner that the respondent ill-treated her on the ground that she did not bring sufficient dowry by reason of which she suffered physical and mental harassment in one way or another. Ultimately, in January, 2001, the respondent left her at Gopalapuram with her parents. He also gave ultimatum that she would be taken back to Hyderabad only if she brings another sum of Rs. 6,00,000/ -. Her parents could not arrange such huge amount and all the efforts for conciliation failed. She is left with no option to continue with her parents at Gopalapuram. The respondent allegedly concocted a fictitious account of their marital life and filed o. P. No. 388 of 2001 before the Family court, Hyderabad for divorce under section 13 (1) (ia) of the Act. She is now required to take suitable steps to contest the o. P. Staying at Gopalapuram she is unable to prosecute the O. P. properly. Her father is an employee of Telecommunications department at Gopalapuram and cannot afford to spare time and money for making frequent trips to Hyderabad or to finance her visits. The respondent s parents are permanent residents of Gunnampalli village, Dwaraka Tirumala Mandal, West godavari District, which is very close to vijayawada. It is not only convenient if the o. P, is transferred to Vijayawada and the same would not cause any inconvenience to the respondent whereas if the O. P. is tried in Hyderabad she would have to make frequent trips to Hyderabad. Therefore, she prayed for transfer of the O. P.
( 3 ) THIS Court while ordering notice by order dt. 14-8-2001 stayed the trial in o. P. No. 388 of 2001. After receiving notice the respondent filed C. M. P. No. 16457 of 2001 seeking to vacate the order of stay dt. 14-8-2001. He also filed elaborate counter opposing the transfer. Indeed, the learned Counsel appearing for the respondent also sought to place on record a recorded audio tape allegedly containing the conversation between the respondent on one hand and Sri K. Babu Rao and sri A. Subba Rao of Jangareddygudem, west Godavari District on the other. It is stated that K. Babu Rao is the petitioner s maternal uncle and A. Subba Rao is the former business partner of Babu Rao and both of them made phone call from a hotel room in Hospet. This Court declined permission to the learned Counsel to bring the recorded tape on record as the same was not supported by separate affidavit and also for the reason that for the purpose of deciding this application for transfer the same is not relevant.
( 4 ) THE respondent in his counter- affidavit accompanying vacate stay application admits the marriage. He also says that he is highly qualified with Ph. D. in economics and he has undertaken various projects to his credit besides acting in advisory capacity to various institutions. He also states that under his guidance the petitioner completed her Masters on environmental Protection with the Indian institute of Ecology and Environment, New delhi. In spite of this the petitioner was not happy with the marriage, which was agains