1996 Supreme(P&H) 466
PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT
G.C.Garg, J.
Kamlesh Verma
Versus
Ram Tilak Verma
First Appeal from the Order No. 58 of 1994,
Decided On : MARCH 18, 1996
Important Points
Subject
Family Law - Maintenance and Support
Act Referred
Headnote
Maintenance Allowance - Husband's Inability to Pay - Court's Decision
Fact of the Case:
The appellant-wife sought a direction for the respondent-husband to pay maintenance allowance as ordered by the Court. The respondent claimed to be unemployed and unable to pay maintenance.
Finding of the Court:
The Court found that the husband failed to pay maintenance and expressed his inability to do so, leading to his defense being struck off. As a result, the wife's appeal was allowed, and the husband's petition under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act was dismissed.
Issues: Non-payment of maintenance allowance, husband's defense struck off, dismissal of husband's petition under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act
Ratio Decidendi: When the husband fails to pay maintenance and expresses inability to do so, his defense can be struck off, leading to dismissal of his petition under the Hindu Marriage Act.
Final Decision: The appeal of the appellant-wife is allowed, and the petition filed by the respondent-husband under Section 9 of the Act is dismissed. No order as to costs.
G.C.Garg, J.
1. Appellant-wife has moved this application for a direction to the respondent-husband to pay to her the maintenance allowance as ordered by this Court on 5.9.1994 or issue such other direction as may be deemed necessary in the facts and circumstances of this case.
2. In response to notice of Civil Misc., reply has been filed. The respondent also came present in Court and has categorically stated that he is not employed and is not in a position to pay maintenance whatsoever. In other words, the respondent declined to make payment of the maintenance allowance and stated that this Court may pass whatever order it may deem fit in the facts and circumstances of this case. The respondent further stated that he was earlier employed in a company but on his transfer to Secundrabad, he resigned and is no longer in service and is, therefore, unable to pay the maintenance to the appellant or the minor child who is admittedly living with the appellant-wife.
3. In the similar circumstances as noticed above, the matter was considered on different occasions in Smt. Swarno Devi v. Piara Ram, 1975 H.L.R. 15; Gurdev Kaur v. Dalip Singh, 1980 H.L.R. 240, and Smt. Surinder Kaur v. Balde v Singh, 1980 H.L.R. 514, wherein it was held that when the husband fails to pay maintenance and litigation expenses to the wife, his defence is to be struck off. Since in the present case also, the husband has failed to make the payment of maintenance and litigation expenses to the wife as ordered by this Court and even has categorically expressed his inability to do so by coming in Court personally, his defence is struck off. The consequence is that the appeal of the appellant-wife is to be allowed and the petition Under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act filed by the respondent-husband is to be dismissed. Accordingly, the appeal is allowed and husbands petition filed under Section 9 of the Act is hereby dismissed. However, there will be no order as to costs. Civil Misc. also stands disposed of accordingly.