Karnataka High Court
SHANTHA, USHADEVI - Appellant
Versus
B.G.SHIVANANJAPPA - Respondent
Decided On : 05-06-05
CRIMINAL APPEAL : 673 of 2005
Maintenance - Application of Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure - Section 125(3)
Fact of the Case:
The appellant filed a petition under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for maintenance. The trial court allowed the petition, but the respondent objected to the arrears of maintenance claimed beyond one year. The matter went through various revisions and appeals, with the High Court ultimately setting aside the order of the Sessions Judge.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the application for recovery of arrears of maintenance was filed within the period of limitation and that the bar under Section 125(3) could not be applied. It emphasized that Section 125 of the Cr. P. C. is a measure of social legislation and should be construed liberally for the welfare and benefit of the wife and daughter.
Issues: The main issue was whether the application for arrears of maintenance was barred by limitation under Section 125(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the application for recovery of arrears of maintenance was filed within the period of limitation and that the bar under Section 125(3) could not be applied. It emphasized the continuing liability of the husband to pay maintenance as per the order passed under Section 125(1).
Final Decision: The impugned order of the High Court was set aside, and the order passed by the Additional District Judge was restored. The learned Magistrate was directed to take appropriate steps under Section 125(3) if the arrears of maintenance were not paid within three months.
( 1 ) LEAVE granted.
( 2 ) BRIEF facts giving rise to this appeal are that the appellant, shantha alias Ushadevi and Kusuma, a minor represented by her mother-guardian filed a petition under Section 125 of the Code of criminal Procedure being Criminal Petition No. 2 of 1991 before the trial Court against respondent claiming for maintenance. The said criminal petition was allowed by the Trial Court by its order dated january 20, 1993 awarding a sum of Rs. 500/- to the appellant, the wife of the respondent and a sum of Rs. 300/- to Kusuma, the daughter for maintenance. The appellant filed Criminal Miscellaneous Petition No. 47 of 1993 under Section 125 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure claiming an amount of Rs. 5,365/- as arrear maintenance calculated from January 20, 1993 (i. e. , the date of the Trial Court's order granting maintenance) to August 31, 1993. Respondent filed a criminal revision before the Sessions Judge, Tumkur being Cri. Revision Petition No. 35 of 1993 against the order passed by the Trial Court. This revision petition was dismissed by the Sessions Judge by its order dated June 26, 1997 affirming the order passed by the Trial Court. Thereafter, the respondent took up the matter before the High Court of Kamataka at bangalore by filing a criminal revision petition being Cri. R. P. No. 2297 of 1997 against the order passed by the Sessions Judge, Tumkur on june 26, 1997. The said revision petition was dismissed by the High court. After the affirmation of the order by the High Court, an interim application being LA. 1 was filed in Criminal Misc. Petition No. 47 of 1993 claiming arrears of maintenance for the period from January 20, 1993 i. e. , the date of the Trial Court's order till the date of filing the LA. 1 i. e. , 16th June, 1998 for a sum of Rs. 46,000/ -. The respondent deposited a sum of Rs. 5,365/- towards the maintenance from January 20, 1993 till August 31, 1993. However, LA. 1 filed by the appellant for arrears of maintenance in Cri. Misc. Petition No. 47 of 1993 claiming maintenance of Rs. 46,000/- was objected by the respondent contending that the appellant cannot claim arrears of maintenance beyond a period of one year under first proviso to Section 125 (3) of the Code of Criminal procedure being barred by limitation. The Trial Court by its order dated july 13, 2000 dismissed the LA. 1 being barred by limitation. The appellant thereafter filed a criminal revision which came to be registered as Criminal Revision Petition No. 194 of 2000 before the learned Sessions Judge, Tumkur. The said criminal revision petition was allowed by the learned Sessions Judge by its order dated November 23, 2002 and the matter was remanded back to the Trial Court. Learned sessions Judge observed that there was no need of filing a fresh petition during the pendency of the application under Section 125 (3) of the Cr. P. C. for maintenance which has fallen due for the period post application and it is implicit in the powers of the Court to make an order directing the husband to make payment of arrears of maintenance upto the decision while disposing of the application for recovery of arrears of maintenance. The learned Sessions Judge further observed that it is not required to file a fresh application which may lead to multiplicity of litigations. Learned Sessions Judge further held that the LA. 1 filed the criminal Misc. Petition No. 47 of 1993 claiming maintenance was within limitation. Aggrieved against this order of the learned Sessions Judge, respondent filed criminal revision being Cri. R. P. No. 753 of 2003 before the High Court of Karnataka at Bangalore. The High Court allowed the criminal revision and set aside the order of the learned Sessions Judge holding that the said application was barred by limitation. Aggrieved against this order of the High Court passed in Criminal Revision petition No. 753 of 2003 on March 11. 2004 (B. G. Shivananjappa v shantha alias Ushadevi and Another ), the pres
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