IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
P.T. ASHA, J.
Vijayalakshmi – Appellant
Versus
R. Balasubramaniam – Respondent
C.R.P(NPD). No. 4171 of 2010
Decided On : 13-07-2018
Constitution of India, 1950 - Article 227 - Desertion and cruelty - Seeking divorce - Respondent in his petition has contended that the marriage between petitioner and the respondent had taken place as per Hindu Rites and Customs and that they lived as husband and wife for 10 years till that his matrimonial life was miserable and petitioner herein used to quarrel on trivial matters and would at the drop of the hat leave to her parents place - After contest learned Judge of Family Court by a judgment and decree dated granted judicial separation instead of divorce as sought for by the Respondent herein - This decree was taken by way of an appeal by the petitioner herein to this Court in C.M.A.No. and by judgment and decree dated this Court was pleased to allow the appeal on ground that when relief sought for was for a divorce the alternative relief of judicial separation could not be granted - Petitioner further contended that respondent was deliberately maligning his name and reputation as a result of which he has suffered immense mental agony – Held, It is an abuse of the process of Court and contrary to Justice and public policy for a party to relitigate same issue which has already been tried and decided earlier against him - Reagitation may or may not be barred as res judicata - But if same issue is sought to be reagitated, it also amounts to an abuse of process of Court - A proceeding being filed for a collateral purpose, as a spurious claim being made in litigation may also in a given set of facts amount to an abuse of process of Court - Frivoulous or vexations proceedings may also amount to an abuse of process of Court especially where proceedings are absolutely groundless - Honble Supreme Court had relied on judgment reported in Mclkenny Vs. Chief Constable of West Midlands Police Force(1980) where Court of appeal in England in one has struck out plea as a case of abuse of process of Court - That was case were party was re litigating an issue which already been decided against him, in an earlier proceedings as in instant case - Court has to see that it is not used as a means of oppression and process of litigation is free from vexatiousness - Categories of conduct rendering a claim frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of process would depend upon relevant circumstances - But, it has to be judged from angle of interest of justice and public policy - Civil Revision Petition is allowed,
1. The Civil Revision Petition is filed invoking the jurisdiction of this Court under Article 227 of the Constitution of India to dismiss O.P.No.2452 of 2006 pending on the file of the II Additional Judge, Family Court, Chennai on the ground of an abuse of process of Court. The wife who is the respondent in the proceedings before the Family Court is the petitioner in the above Civil Revision Petition.
2. The respondent/husband has filed O.P.No.2452 of 2006 on the file of the II Additional Judge, Family Court, Chennai seeking divorce on the ground of cruelty and desertion. The respondent in his petition has contended that the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent had taken place on 06.07.1969 as per the Hindu Rites and Customs and that they lived as husband and wife for 10 years till 09.09.1979; that his matrimonial life was miserable and the petitioner herein used to quarrel on trivial matters and would at the drop of the hat leave to her parents place. The respondent herein would further contend that he had earlier filed O.P.No.450 of 1982 before the 2nd Additional Judge, Family Court, Chennai, against the respondent for divorce on the very same ground of desertion and cruelty. After the formation of the Family Court at Chennai, the Original Petition was transferred to the Family Court and the same was renumbered as H.M.O.P.No.1 of 1998.
3. After contest the learned Judge of the Family Court by a judgment and decree dated 19.05.1992 granted judicial separation instead of divorce as sought for by the Respondent herein. This decree was taken by way of an appeal by the petitioner herein to this Court in C.M.A.No.261 of 1993 and by judgment and decree dated 19.12.1996, this Court was pleased to allow the appeal on the ground that when the relief sought for was for a divorce the alternative relief of judicial separation could not be granted. Challenging this judgment and decree, the respondent herein preferred an appeal to the Hon’ble Supreme Court and by an order dated 05.08.1999, the Hon’ble Supreme Court was pleased to confirm the judgment and decree of this Court. He would further aver that even after the dismissal of the appeal in C.A.No.2966 of 1997 by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the petitioner herein did not evince any interest to rejoin the matrimonial home and therefore it should be presumed that she was no longer interested in continuing the marital relationship. The petitioner further contended that the respondent was deliberately maligning his name and reputation as a result of which he has suffered immense mental agony.
4. In paragraph 10 of the petition, the petitioner has stated that since the petitioner and the respondent are living separately from 1979 onwards and as the petitioner had not evinced any interest in returning to her matrimonial home particularly after the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court it has become necessary for the respondent to “once again” seek divorce on the ground of desertion and cruelty. The cause of action for filing the present petition has been detailed in paragraph 12 of the petition which is extracted herein below.
''The cause of action for the above O.P. had arisen with in the jurisdiction of this Hon'ble Court where the petitioner and the respondent last resided and on 05.08.1999 when the Apex Court had confirmed the dismissal of the earlier petition for divorce in H.M.O.P.No.1 of 1988 and even thereafter the respondent had deserved the petitioner for continuous period of 7 years and on various dates when the petitioner had been put to mental cruelty as stated above.''
This petition has been signed on 28th August 2006.
5. The petitioner herein had filed a counter statement in which she has raised the defence of res judicata; that apart she has also contended that prior to the filing of the present Original Petition, the respondent had filed two earlier Original Petitions both of which were not numbered and rejected at the threshold. In fact the copy of the petiti
The Member Concern Department of Post, Government of India Vs Ms.Annapoorni and others
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