The court's power to strike out a party's defense for failure to pay maintenance and litigation expenses.

1. Appellant-wife has assailed the decree of divorce granted by the Additional District Judge, Ludhiana, by judgment dated February 5, 1993, on the ground of cruelty under Sec. 13 (1)(i-a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 .

2. Admittedly, the parties were married on March 12, 1981. The appellant gave birth to one son and one daughter in this wedlock. The children are with the respondent.

3. Respondent-husbands contention in the lower Court was that after 4-5 months of their marriage, appellants parents and her brothers started interfering in their matrimonial life. She is arrogant and insolent by temperament, never bothered for him or for his family members. She wanted him to live separately but he could not accede to her command as he is the only son of his old parents. She used to leave the matrimonial home on her own, but he always brought her back. Once her brothers beat his mother. When she withdrew from his society, he filed a petition for restitution in conjugal rights. The matter was compromised. She agreed to live in the matrimonial home, but again she left the matrimonial home and lodged a false report with the police. The police called the respondent and tortured him. Thus, according to the respondent, she has treated him cruelly and it is injurious for him to live with her.

4. The appellant-wife contested the petition. She averred that she never treated him with cruelty. Rather she was maltreated by him. He wanted more dowry. On that count she was beaten mercilessly and was turned out of the matrimonial home. The respondent wants to perform second marriage.

5. On these pleadings, issues were raised. Parties adduced their evidence. The trial Court came to the conclusion that the wife has treated the husband with cruelty and thus the decree of divorce was passed.

6. During the pendency of this appeal, the appellant filed a petition under Sec. 24 of the Act for granting maintenance allowance as well as litigation expenses to her. This petition was allowed vide order dated November 22, 1993. The husband-respondent was ordered to pay Rs. 500 / - as maintenance pendente lite and Rs. 2200/- as litigation expenses. Arrears of maintenance pendente lite and litigation expenses were ordered to be paid by December 10, 1993. But it is apparent from the record that the husband never bothered to comply with this order. He did not pay the litigation expenses or the maintenance to the wife-appellant. On January 5, 1995, also the respondent was directed to bring the balance of the maintenance allowance in the Court, to be paid to the appellant, but on the adjourned date i.e. February 10, 1995, maintenance was not paid as the respondents counsel could not contact the respondent. On his request, the case was adjourned to March 13, 1995. On March 15, 1995, the arguments were heard but due to non-payment of arrears of maintenance, the case was adjourned to April 24, 1995, with a clear direction to the respondent through his counsel that arrears must be paid to the appellant before April 24, 1995. On April 24, 1995, correct address of the respondent was supplied by the appellant to the respondents counsel. He again sought time to pay maintenance. The case was adjourned to May 23, 1995. It was taken up on May 25, 1995. Again such a prayer was made on behalf of the respondent. On January 8, 1996, respondents counsel submitted that he sent a letter to the respondent at the new address given by the appellant, but still he could not get any reply. Thus, maintenance amount and litigation expenses as ordered vide order dated November 22, 1993, were not paid by the husband.

7. No doubt, wife can file a petition under O. 21, R. 37, CPC for the recovery of this amount and the husband can be hauled up under the Contempt of Courts also for disobedience of the aforesaid Courts order, but S. 24 of the Act empowers the matrimonial Court to make an order for maintenance pendente lite and for expenses of proceedings to a needy and indigent spouse.