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2023 Supreme(Kar) 1263

KARNATAKA HIGH COURT
ALOK ARADHE, VIJAYKUMAR A. PATIL, JJ.
Shubha – Petitioner
Versus
H. Satish – Respondent
M.F.A. No.5732 of 2015 (FC) C/W R.P.F.C. No.125 of 2015
Decided On : 10-03-2023

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Mr. Kempanna.
For the Respondent: Mr. Abhinay Y.T.

Headnote:(A) Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 - Section 9 - Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - Section 125 - Restitution of conjugal rights - Maintenance - The Family Court allowed the husband's petition for restitution under Section 9 and dismissed the wife's maintenance claim under Section 125, concluding she left the matrimonial home of her own accord without justifiable grounds. (Paras 2-4)

(B) The court emphasized that the wife failed to demonstrate that the husband willfully refused to maintain her, highlighting that she had abandoned the home and did not make efforts to return. (Paras 4, 6)

Facts of the case:
The marriage took place on 21.05.1987, with two children born from the marriage. The husband sought restitution of conjugal rights after the wife left the matrimonial home on 30.09.2012, alleging neglect by the husband.

Findings of Court:
The Family Court ruled the wife had voluntarily abandoned the marital home and was thus not entitled to maintenance. The husband expressed a desire to reconcile.

Issues: The central issue concerned the justification for the wife's departure from the matrimonial home and her entitlement to maintenance.

Ratio Decidendi: The court found no grounds justifying the wife's claim for maintenance under Section 125, confirming the application of Section 9 allowing restitution due to her abandonment of the marriage.

Result: Appeal and revision petition are dismissed.

Table of Content
1. overall assessment of marital relationship and living conditions. (Para 1 , 6)
2. marriage dissolution and allegations of abandonment. (Para 2 , 3)
3. family court's ruling on failed claims and evidence. (Para 4)
4. arguments regarding care of children and maintenance claims. (Para 5)

JUDGMENT :

(Alok Aradhe, J.)

This appeal and revision petition have been filed by the wife which arise out of common judgment dated 19.06.2015 passed in M.C.No.80/2014 and Crl.Misc.No.326/2013. By the aforesaid common judgment, the Family Court has allowed the petition filed by the husband under Section 9 of the HINDU MARRIAGE ACT , 1955 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') and has dismissed the petition filed by the wife under Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. The appeal and revision petition were therefore heard together and are being decided by this common judgment.

2. Facts giving rise to filing of this appeal and revision petition, briefly stated are that the marriage between the parties was performed on 21.05.1987 in Basaveshwara Kalyana Mantapa, Hassan. Out of the wedlock, a son and a daughter namely Sharath and Niharika were born to them. It is not in dispute that the son namely Sharath has completed his graduation in Engineering and is assisting the husband in her business. Similarly, daughter namely Niharika has also completed her graduation in Engineering and is under the care and custody of the husband. The husband filed a petition under Section 9 of the Act on 02.04.2014 seeking restitution of conjugal rights. It was inter alia pleaded in the petition that the husband on 30.09.2012 at about 3 A.M., picked up a quarrel with the wife on the ground of alleged illicit relationship. The wife, however, refuted the allegations made by the husband. However, the wife left the matrimonial home and started residing with her sister. However, despite efforts being made by the husband, the wife did not join the matrimonial home. The husband thereupon filed a petition seeking restitution of conjugal rights.

3. The wife, on being served with the notice of the proceedings, filed statement of objections in which the relationship between the parties as well as the factum of birth of children was admitted. However, remaining averments made in the petition were denied. It was averred that the husband, after the death of his mother, used to suspect the chastity of the wife and prevented her from giving public performances as veena player. It was also pleaded that the husband pressurized the wife to accept that she was having illicit relationship with other persons. However, when the wife refused to accept the same, she was ill-treated and harassed by the husband. Thereupon, she left the matrimonial home. It was also pleaded that since the wife had filed a petition seeking maintenance, therefore, as a counter blast, this petition under Section 9 of the Act was filed. The husband examined himself as PW1 and exhibited documents namely Ex.P1 to Ex.P3. The wife examined herself and did not produce any document.

4. The Family Court, vide judgment dated 19.06.2015 inter alia held that the wife has abandoned the matrimonial home on her own will and wish without there being any justifiable ground. Accordingly, the petition filed by the husband under Section 9 of the Act was allowed. The Family Court, vide common judgment passed in Crl.Misc.No.326/2013 inter alia held that the wife has failed to prove that the husband has willfully refused and has neglected to maintain the wife. It has further held that the wife has left the matrimonial home on her won will and wish and therefore, she is not entitled to claim maintenance. Accordingly, the Family Court vide judgment dated 19.06.2015, allowed M.C.No.80/2014 filed by the husband whereas dismissed Crl.Misc.No.326/2013 filed by the wife. In the aforesaid factual background, this appeal and revision petition have been filed.

5. Learned counsel for the wife submitted that the husband is not taking care of th

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