2001 Supreme(Bom) 758
IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
(NAGPUR BENCH)
R.K. Batta, J.
Shaikh Babbu s/o. Shaikh Suleman.... Applicant.
Versus
Rashida w/o. Shaikh Babbu another.... Respondents.
Criminal Revision Application No. 160 of 1996, decided on 16-8-2001.
Advocates appeared :
Mrs. K.V. Sirpurkar, for applicant.
Anil Mardikar, for respondent No. 1.
A.P.P., for State.
Headnote:CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE, 1973
Sections 125 (1) and 125 (3), Explanation- Refusal to grant maintenance- If the husband gets married with another women, second legally married wife if refuses to live with her husband on the ground that he was already married, it will be enough to prove neglect on the part of the husband and therefore she will be entitled to maintenance under sub- section (3) of Section 125 Cr.P.C.
2. The learned Advocate for the present applicant, urged before me that the original applicant had left the matrimonial home after about 6 months of marriage and as such, there has been no refusal or neglect and in this respect, it has been pointed out that both the courts below have in fact held that there has been no neglect or refusal on the part of the original non-applicant to maintain the original applicant. It has also been pointed out that the original non-applicant was always ready and willing to take the original applicant with him and evidence to that effect was led, but the original applicant was not prepared to stay with him. It is next urged that the original applicant being the second wife, very well knew that the first wife was living with the original non-applicant and as such, knowing the same, the original applicant can not claim separate residence nor could claim any maintenance on this count. It was next pointed out that explanation to sub-section (3) of section 125 is restricted to the said sub-section alone and is not attracted in so far as section 125(1) of Cri.P.C. is concerned and that explanation speaks of marriage afterwards and not prior marriage. According to the learned Counsel for the applicant, there was no case for interference by the Additional Sessions Judge in revision and therefore, the revision in question be allowed.
3. The learned Advocate for the original applicant urged before me that explanation to section 125(3) is not restricted to sub-section (3) thereunder, but it applies to section 125(1) Cri.P.C. as well. He urged before me that the offer of husband was made when he was living with another wife which gives justification to the wife not to live with the other wife but to seek