GAUHATI HIGH COURT
P.G.Agarwal, J.
Hydar Ali -Appellant
Versus
Regia Begum -Respondent
Criminal Revision No. 72 of 1993
Decided On : 16-09-1999
MAINTENANCE - SECTION 125 CRPC - ATTACHMENT OF SALARY - ARREARS OF MAINTENANCE - INTERPRETATION OF SECTION 125(3) CRPC - APPLICABILITY OF LIMITATION TO ATTACHMENT OF PROPERTY ONLY - NO BAR FOR ATTACHMENT OF SALARY - SOCIAL WELFARE MEASURE - LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION OF SECTION 125 CRPC.
Fact of the Case:
Petitioner challenged the order directing attachment of his salary for non-payment of maintenance to his wife under Section 125 CrPC. He argued that arrears of maintenance for more than one year cannot be recovered, and that attachment of salary of a government servant is not permissible.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the limitation under Section 125(3) CrPC applies only to attachment of property and not to sentencing the husband for default or imprisonment. It also held that attachment of salary is permissible under Section 125 CrPC, as it is a social welfare measure designed to provide speedy relief to deserted wives and children.
Issues: 1. Whether arrears of maintenance for more than one year can be recovered under Section 125 CrPC? 2. Whether attachment of salary of a government servant is permissible under Section 125 CrPC?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The limitation under Section 125(3) CrPC applies only to attachment of property and not to sentencing the husband for default or imprisonment. 2. Attachment of salary is permissible under Section 125 CrPC, as it is a social welfare measure designed to provide speedy relief to deserted wives and children.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the revision petition and directed the trial magistrate to proceed with the matter for recovery of the maintenance due.
2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner. None appears for the respondent.
3. On 24.10.81 the respondent Mustt Regia Begum filed an application under section 125 CrPC claiming maintenance for herself and her minor children. As the petitioner husband did not contest the proceeding in spite of receipt of notice, the learned trial Court by order dated 13.1.82 directed the petitioner to pay the monthly maintenance of Rs. 200 to the applicant Regia Begum.
4. As per the order the amount of maintenance was deducted from the salary of the petitioner who is the Govt. servant and from 1982 to 1985 respondent was paid the maintenance, by deducting the amount from the salary. Since July 85 maintenance was not paid and on the prayer of the respondent warrant of arrest and fresh order of attachment of salary of the petitioner were issued and hence the present revision.
5. In this petition the petitioner has made certain statements regarding divorce etc which cannot be considered and decided in this revision. The petitioner, if so advised may take recourse to section 127 CrPC.
6. The first contention raised before me is that under section 125 (3) CrPC
amount of maintenance for period exceeding one year cannot be recovered, in view of the specific provision of section 125 (3) CrPC. It is well settled that when an application for recovery of arrears of maintenance is made for a period of more than one year, only such arrears as related to one year prior to the date of riling of an application can be recovered by an attachment of property and this limitation is in respect of attachment of property only. It is not applicable so far sentencing of husband for default to imprisonment, for recovery of arrear due is concerned. I have perused the order sheet and find that from 1985 to till filing of this revision petition, the petitioner appeared before the Court on each and every date and on each prayed for recovery of the maintenance granted to her. ft was the re vision petitioner 2nd party, who delayed the matter by remaining absent or avoiding the process of the Court. The warrant of attachment of salary etc was stayed by this Court vide interim order dated 24.2.93. The amount due from 24-2.93 till today is recoverable and the respondent wife shall be entitled to the same. It is well settled that any stay or stay granted by the Court cannot act adversely against the party and particularly against the deserted wife. The next contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that petitioner is a Govt. servant and the issuance of warrant of attachment of salary for the purpose of the recovery of arrear of maintenance is not permissible under the law. In support of his submission, reference has been made to a decision in the case of Ali Khan vs. Smt Hazambi reported in 1981 Cri LJ 682. There is no specific bar for attachment of salary under section 125 (3) CrPC. The provision under section 125 CrPC are in tike nature of social welfare measure such as speedy relief to the needy i.e. deserted wife, minor child as well as parents etc. In the case of Yerasori Lashminarayana Murty, 1986 Cri LJ 1846 the Hon'ble Andhra Pradesh High Court held as follows:
“Section 125 is designed to provide maintenance to the wife who is unable to support herself. Therefore, it is imperative on the part of the person against whom the decree for payment passed to comply with the decree. Section 125 (3) provides for enforcement of me decree by attachment of any movable property. Movable property must be given wide interpretation and salary cannot be excluded from its category. Therefore, salary of the husband can be attached under section 125 (3) for payment of maintenance to the wife.”
7. In the instant case the wife was deserted soon after the marriage. Further, the respondent is the second wife
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