PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT
M.M.Kumar, J.
Gaurav Nagpal
Versus
Sumedha Nagpal
Civil Review No. 1794 of 2004,
Decided On : JULY 19, 2004
Custody Dispute - Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956, Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 - Section 6 of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956, Section 25 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890
Fact of the Case:
The case involves a custody dispute between a husband and wife over their minor child. The wife filed a petition under Section 6 of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 read with Section 25 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 seeking custody of the child.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the petitions filed by the husband were not maintainable as the orders passed by the trial Court were interlocutory in nature and did not decide any part of the rights of the parties. The court dismissed the petitions with costs.
Issues: The main issue was the custody of the minor child, and whether the wife was in a better position to look after the child compared to the husband.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the petitions were not maintainable under Article 227 of the Constitution as the orders were interlocutory and did not warrant challenge. The court also emphasized that Order VI, Rule 16 of the Code, which deals with striking off unnecessary pleadings, is not mandatory.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the petitions with costs.
1. This order shall dispose of Civil Revision Nos. 1794 of 2004 and 1795 of 2004. These petitions have been filed under Art. 227 of the Constitution and can aptly be described as an illustration of Kilkenny cats fight. In the first petition, the subject-matter of challenge is order dated 26-3-2004 passed by the learned District Judge, Gurgaon dismissing an application of the husband-petitioner for striking off pleadings from the petition filed by the wife-respondent, which are not relatable to the issues as this Court had already ordered certain issues to be deleted by its order dated 8-8-2003 passed in C.M.No. 13104-CII of 2003 in Civil Revision No. 2471 of 2003. In the second petition, challenge is to the order dated 12-2-2004 passed by the learned District Judge, Gurgaon on a prayer made by the wife-respondent for examination of a witness to prove that husband-petitioner has no time to spare for the child. The learned District Judge has disposed of the application by holding that both the parties were entitled to adduce evidence on the point of availability of time for the child.
2. Brief facts of the case necessary for deciding the controversy raised in the instant petitions are that the parties got married on 14-10-1996. A male child, namely Master Vasu Krishan was born to the couple on 15-11-1997. As a result of matrimonial dispute, the parties started living separately, but the child was kept by the husband-petitioner. The wife filed a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution before the Supreme Court for custody of the child which is reported as Sumedha Nagpal V/s. State of Delhi, (2000) 9 SCC 745. The Supreme Court dismissed the aforementioned petition on the ground that it raised disputed question of facts. It was further held that all questions raised before the Supreme Court ought to be decided by an appropriate forum irrespective of the observation made in that judgment. Thereafter, the wife-respondent instituted petition No. 01/01/03 on 31-3-2001 under Section 6 of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 read with Section 25 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890. During the course of proceedings, the parties have moved this Court on one pretext or the other.
3. It would be necessary to make a reference to Civil Revision No. 2471 of 2003 filed by the wife-respondent which came up for consideration before this Court on 24-5-2003. The aforementioned petition was allowed by directing the deletion of certain issues. Thereafter, the husband-petitioner filed C.M. No. 13104-CII of 2003 in Civil Revision No. 2471 of 2003, in which prayer was made for recalling of the order dated 24-5-2003. The aforementioned application was also disposed of on 8-8-2003. This Court made it absolutely clear that the petition filed by the wife-respondent is to be tried on the following three issues :-
"1. Whether the petitioner being the mother and the natural guardian is entitled for the custody of her minor son ? Opp (Issue No. 2)
2. Whether the petitioner is in a better position to look after and bring up the minor as compared to the respondent as alleged? OPP (Issue No. 4)
3. Relief. (Issue No. 12)"
This Court also clarified that the following issues were to be deleted :
"1. Whether the child namely Vasu Krishan aged 20 months was snatched forcibly from the possession of the mother illegally on 1-8-1999 ? OPP (Issue No. 1)
2. Whether the petitioner was beaten, bundled in a car and kept in illegal confinement as alleged in para 7 of the petition ? OPP (Issue No. 3)
3. Whether the parents and brother of the petitioner are well off financially ? OPP (Issue No. 5)
4. Whether the respondent through his brother owns couple of companies as alleged ? OPP (Issue No. 6)
5. Whether M/s. Padmini Polymers is a family concern of the respondent as alleged and there are numerous criminal cases pending against these companies and their Directors as alleged ? OPP (Issue No. 7)
6. Whether the respondent and his other family members are inv
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