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1985 Supreme(Ori) 80

High Court Of Orissa
J. K. MOHANTY
SADASIVUNI PUSPA - Appellant
Versus
S.DIVAKAR RAO - Respondent
CRIMINAL REVISION 22  Of  1982
Decided On : 03/14/1985

Advocates Appeared:
A.K.Mohapatra, B.B.RATHOD, J.P.MISHRA, J.R.DAS, MANOJ MISHRA, P.K.BHUYAN, R.P.MOHAPATRA

Headnote:(i) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, Section 125 - Refusal to grant maintenance – Ground - No jurisdiction to hear the case -Neglected and turned out wife alongwith her son - Resided with her brother - Who subsequently transferred to other district - Whether the findings of trial Court about jurisdiction can be sustained? (No) (Paras 1 and 4)

       (ii) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, Section 126 - Clause (l)(b) – Scope - Proceedings under Section 125 - May be taken against any person in any district - Where he or his wife resides - No finding about quantum of maintenance.

       Held, each of the petitioners be awarded monthly maintenance of Rs. 125/-.

       Result

       Revision application allowed. (Paras 5, 6 and 7)

       

J. K. MOHANTY, J.


( 1 ) THIS revision arises out of an order passed by the Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate, Rayagada on a petition under S. 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code refusing to grant maintenance mainly on the ground that he has no jurisdiction to hear the case.

( 2 ) PETITIONER No. 1 is the wife and petitioner No. 2 is the minor son of the opp. party. Marriage between petitioner No. 1 and opposite party was solemnised on 21-4-68 and in 1970 petitioner No. 1 gave birth to petitioner No. 2 Sometime thereafter the opposite party started ill-treating petitioner No. 1 and refused to give food and clothings to the petitioners and ultimately drove her and her son out of his house on 28-6-71. Petitioner No. 1 finding no other shelter came to the house of her brother who was serving at Rayagada. The opposite party has also in the meantime kept a concubine. According to the petitioners, the opp. party is getting a monthly salary of Rs. 1000/- and as they have no other means to maintain themselves, they have claimed maintenance of Rs. 300/- per month for petitioner No. 1 and Rs. 200/- per month for petitioner No. 2. The opposite party contested the application and filed counter denying the allegations of ill-treatment made by the petitioners. According to him, he has not neglected or refused to maintain the petitioners. As the petitioner No. 1 voluntarily left him, and did not come back, he filed an application for restitution of conjugal right in the Court of the Sub-Judge, Visakhapatnam which was allowed and in spite of the order of the Court, petitioner did not come to him. Ultimately a decree of divorce was passed. In view of this the petitioners are not entitled to any maintenance. In order to prove the case petition No. 1 has examined herself as P. W. 1 and the opposite party has examined himself as O. P. W. 1.

( 3 ) IT is not disputed in his case that petitioner No. 1 is the wife who has been divorced in the meantime and is entitled to maintenance along with her son, petitioner No. 2. The learned Court has found that there is no legal cruelty as alleged by petitioner No. 1 in view of the finding in the Divorce Case in O. P. No. 201/80, Ext. 1. But from the evidence of petitioner No. 1 and in the facts and circumstances of the case it is clear that the opposite party neglected and refused to maintain the petitioners.

( 4 ) REGARDING the question of jurisdiction, petitioner No. 1 in her evidence has stated that after she was driven out by the opp. party she remained with her brother, who was posted a Rayagada. On the date of filing of the application for maintenance she was staying with her brother and during the year 1978-79 she and her son were staying with her brother at Rayagada in the district of Ganjam. Subsequently her brother was transferred and was posted at Khariar and at the time of the hearing of the case in the year 1981 she was staying with her brother at Khariar (in Kalahandi district ). The trial Court seems to be of the view that as at the time of hearing of the case petitioners were not residing at Rayagada but were residing at Khariar i. e. in another district, he has not jurisdiction to hear the case in view of S. 126 of the Criminal Procedure Code. S. 126 (1), Cr. P. C. reads as follows : "procedure :- (1) Proceedings under S. 125 may be taken against any person in any district- (a) where he is, or (b) where her or his wife resides, or (c) where he last resided with his wife, or as the case may be, with the mother of the illegitimate child. " so according to Cl. (1) (b) of S. 126, Cr. P. C. the proceedings under S. 125, Cr. P. C. may be taken against any person in any district where he or his wife resides. The Dictionary meaning of "reside" is "to dwell permanently or continuously; have a settled abode for a time; have one's residence or domicile". "reside" means something more than a flying visit or a casual stay. There shall be an intention to stay for a period, the length of which depending up



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