1997 Supreme(Pat) 507
PATNA HIGH COURT
P.K.Deb, J.
Sheik Alimuddin
Versus
Tajmunnisa
Criminal Miscellaneous No. 2167 of 1995 ;
Decided On : JULY 22, 1997
Headnote:Mohamdan Law-Code or Criminal Procedure, section 125-Maintenance-Illegal divorce-nonest in the eye of law-The declaration made in the written statement in the proceeding u/s 125 Cr. P.C. can not be construed as a declaration of divorce from that date as no formalities required under Mohamdan Law for Talak had been complied with. (Para 14)
1997 PLJC 278, AIR 1961 Bombay 121, AIR 1951 Hyderabad 117.
P.K.Deb, J.
1. This petition has been filed under Sec. 482, Criminal Procedure Code by the husband-petitioner against the wife-opposite party for quashing of the order dated 21.9.1994, as contained in Annexure-1 passed by Shri Ram Kishore Singh, the then Sessions Judge, Singhbhum (East), Jamshedpur in Criminal Revision No. 17/94 arising out of an order dated 7.12.1993 contained in Annexure-2 passed by the then Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Ghatshila in Misc. Case No. 2/86 under Sec. 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
2. The opposite party No. 1-wife had filed an application under Sec. 125, Criminal Procedure Code for grant of monthly maintenance to her and to her children before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate at Jamshedpur in Misc. Case No. 2/86. Her case was that she was legally married to the petitioner and after marriage they started to reside together as husband and wife. The opposite party has got his own Biscuit Bakery shop at Ghatshila and earns Rs. 5,000.00 per month and that he has also got a rice shop at Sakchi (Jamshedpur) having monthly earning of Rs. 7,000.00 . After the marriage both the spouses were leading a happy conjugal life and four female off-springs were born in the wedlock. But, all on a sudden the petitioner-husband started beating the opposite party-wife without any reason and she was not provided with food and clothes. In the month of June, 1985 the wife had to leave the house of the opposite party-husband for fear of her life and ultimately took shelter in her fathers house at Ghatshila and having no income she is passing her days in vagrance. Two minor children are residing with the wife while the other two with the husband. She claimed for maintenance for herself and for her two minor female children. The opposite party contested the claim besides taking other pleas regarding denial of so much monthly income as stated in the petition under Sec. 125, Criminal Procedure Code. He had taken the plea that the wife was an ill-tongued and ill-tampered woman and she was completedly disobedient and had no affectionate consideration for the conforts and well being of the husband. She was in the habit of quarreling with the husband and his mother as well and also with the neighbours and as such the life of the husband became miserable. He tried his level best to maintain the conjugal life but having unable to tolerate the situation. He divorced her on 14.7.1985 by uttering the word Talak thrice in the hearing of the applicant and also other three persons and that event of divorce took place during the stay of the wife and the husband at Ghatshila and from that date there remained no conjugal relationship between the two. It was admitted that at the time of giving Talak the wife was pregnant for about seven months. This matter of Talak was referred to Kaji and a Fatwa was given by the Kaji to the effect that Talak given by the husband was a valid one in the eye of law.
3. The case proceeded on the pleadings of the parties as mentioned above. Both parties adduced evidence. From the side of the wife, there was total denial of the plea of divorce as taken by the husband. After considering the evidence on record, the learned Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate held that the divorce, as stated by the husband, was not proved and as such held that there was no dissolution of marriage by divorce on 14.7.1985 as stated from the side of the husband and as such considering the income of the husband had passed order of maintenance to the tune of Rs. 300.00 per month in favour of the wife while Rs. 200/ - per month each for the two minor children who were in custody of the wife.
4. Against this order of maintenance, the husband preferred Criminal Revision No. 17 of 1994 before the Sessions Judge at Jamshedpur. That Criminal Revision was also dismissed and besides holding that the divorce could not be proved by the husband, it was also held that even if that divorce was granted then also the said divor