IN THE HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
DEEPAK KUMAR TIWARI, J.
Rambati Nag W/o Senapati Nag – Appellant
Versus
Senapati Nag S/o Shibo Nag – Respondent
CRR No. 461 of 2020
Decided On : 09-11-2022
Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 125 - Application - Grant of maintenance - Applicant/wife has preferred an application under Section 125 of Cr.P.C. for grant of maintenance on, alleging in it that she is legally wedded wife of respondent - Respondent deserted applicant after two children were born out of their wedlock and kept another lady namely Usha who is a resident of Village-Binta. After desertion, he maintained applicant for some time but since 5 years, he neglected her maintenance - Respondent/non-applicant is working as clerk in the office of Block Education Officer - Applicant is unable to maintain herself and respondent is having sufficient means, but, he neglects and refuses to maintain her, therefore, she filed an application for grant of maintenance - Non-applicant/respondent has filed reply and denied the marriage with applicant - He admits that applicant has lived with him for some time, but he denied that from their relation two children were born - Non-applicant further averred that as per social custom prevailing in village, applicant and non-applicant were separated 27 years ago and non-applicant has married to Usha as per social customs – Held, Per contra learned counsel for non-applicant, Advocate would opposes application and submits that learned trial Court properly appreciated evidence and rightly came to conclusion that relation of husband and wife was not proved - In matter of Chunmuniya (supra) it was held that compensation awarded in case of live in relationship and the same also be allowed in proceeding under Section 125 of Cr.P.C. and reference was answered that “the term “wife” to include in this case where man and woman living together as a husband and wife for a reasonably long period of time, and strict proof of marriage should not be a pre condition for maintenance under Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. so as to fulfill the true spirit and essence of beneficial provision of maintenance under Section 125 - As non-applicant has admitted in his evident that he is working as Assistant Grade-II at Girls High School, District-Bastar and also admitted in his examination that he is receiving to tune of Rs. 40,000/- per month in month of November, 2019, considering his salary as he is not paying any maintenance to applicant and neglects her, so learned trial Court was unjustified in rejecting the applicant filed by the applicant - Revision petition is allowed.
ORDER :
1. This revision petition has been filed challenging the order passed by the Judge, Family Court, Bastar, District-Jagdalpur, C.G. in M.J.C. No. 32/2017 whereby the application under Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. has been dismissed.
2. Brief facts of the case are that, the applicant/wife has preferred an application under Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. for grant of maintenance on 09.03.2017, alleging in it that she is legally wedded wife of the respondent. The respondent deserted the applicant after two children were born out of their wedlock and kept another lady namely Usha who is a resident of Village-Binta. After desertion, he maintained the applicant for some time but since 5 years, he neglected her maintenance. The respondent/non-applicant is working as clerk in the office of Block Education Officer, Lohandiguda, Bastar. The applicant is unable to maintain herself and the respondent is having sufficient means, but, he neglects and refuses to maintain her, therefore, she filed an application for grant of maintenance. The non-applicant/respondent has filed reply and denied the marriage with the applicant. However, he admits that the applicant has lived with him for some time, but he denied that from their relation two children were born. The non-applicant further averred that as per the social custom prevailing in the village, the applicant and non-applicant were separated 27 years ago and non-applicant has married to Usha as per social customs. The applicant is getting old age pension, also receiving rice belonging to BPL card and also earning by labour work, therefore, she is not entitled for grant of maintenance and therefore, the application filed by the applicant may be dismissed.
3. During the proceedings, the applicant has examined herself, Sukhmati and Manorama and the non-applicant/respondent has examined himself and his mother Parvati Nag. The Court has also examined as a Court witness Ms. Lalita Mandavi, Lecturer, Girl High School, Lohandiguda. The learned trial Court vide impugned order has found that the petitioner has failed to established the relation of wife with the non-applicant and further opined that if for sake of the arguments it has been admitted that there is divorce by social custom which would took place 26 years ago, as the applicant/wife has not moved any application for such long period, therefore, the relation of the applicant with the non-applicant was dead. Though, the learned trial Court has find that the petitioner is unable to maintain herself, dismissed the application.
4. Shri Pravin Kumar Tulsyan, learned counsel for the applicant/wife submits that the non-applicant has admitted that the applicant is living with her for some time and witnesses of the non-applicant, who is mother of the non-applicant admits that Mangal and Chandrama are son and daughter of Rambati and non-applicant and both are presently living in the house built by the non-applicant. Though, she denied the marriage with the non-applicant with the applicant, but she admits that both where lived together for some time. Therefore, considering the facts as strict proof of marriage is not necessary for deciding an application under Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. he would also place reliance in the matter of Chanmuniya vs. Virendra Kumar Singh Kushwaha, 2010 AIR SCW 6497 and Ganeshram vs. Dhannulal, AIR 2015 SC 2382.
5. Per contra learned counsel for the non-applicant Shri Pawan Kumar Kashyap, Advocate would opposes the application and submits that the learned trial Court properly appreciated the evidence and rightly came to the conclusion that the relation of the husband and wife was not proved, therefore, rightly refused to grant maintenance, the order is well reasoned and not call for an interference by this Court.
6. I have heard learned counsel for the applicant at length and perused the record.
7. In the matter of Chunmuniya (supra) it was held that the compensation awarded in case of live in relationship and the same also be al
The court affirmed that S.125 Cr.P.C. provides maintenance to women even without a formal marriage if cohabitation is established.
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the purpose of section 125 of Cr.P.C. is to prevent vagrancy and destitution, and it is a measure of social justice to protect women and child....
The duty of the husband to provide financial support to the wife and the purpose of Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. as a measure of social justice to prevent destitution and vagrancy of deserted wives and....
Delay in filing a maintenance application does not negate entitlement to maintenance; consent to separate was misinterpreted.
A second marriage is void if the first marriage is still valid, and only a legally wedded wife is entitled to maintenance under Section 125 of Cr.P.C.
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the term 'wife' under Section 125 of CrPC should be interpreted liberally, considering the social context and the purpose of the provision, to....
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