SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2023 Supreme(P&H) 3440

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
MANOJ BAJAJ, J.
Angrej Kaur – Petitioner
Versus
State of Punjab & Ors. – Respondents
CWP NO.21584 of 2020 (O&M)
Decided On : 08-05-2023

Advocates Appeared:
Ms. Manpreet Kaur, Advocate and Mr. R.S. Sidhu, Advocate; For the Petitioner
For the Respondent: Ms. Jasleen Kaur Sidhu, DAG, Punjab.
Mr. Abhinav Singla, Advocate for Respondent No.5.

Headnote:(A) Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 - Article 226 of the Constitution of India - A writ petition was filed challenging an appellate order remanding a maintenance case back to the executing Court for fresh decision; it was held that the executing Court exceeded its jurisdiction by cancelling a transfer deed without challenge from the petitioner. (Paras 2-4)

(B) Jurisdiction of executing Court - The executing Court cannot go beyond the scope of the original order for maintenance which was limited in nature. (Paras 3-4)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner, a senior citizen, sought to quash an order remanding her maintenance case against her son back to the executing Court, challenging a transfer deed made in her husband's favor, and claiming that her son failed to pay adequate maintenance.

Findings of Court:
The appellate Court carefully examined the material and found no grounds for the executing Court's actions while reaffirming that the maintenance order's limitations were not challenged.

Issues: The court addressed whether the executing Court had the jurisdiction to cancel the transfer deed and the appropriateness of the appellate Court's remand.

Ratio Decidendi: The court ruled that the executing Court exceeded its jurisdiction, as the maintenance order was not challenged, and that the appellate authority properly acted within its remit.

Result: Writ petition dismissed.

Table of Content
1. petition for quashing orders regarding maintenance (Para 1)
2. petitioner's claim for cancellation of transfer deed and maintenance (Para 2)
3. respondent's defense against cancellation order (Para 3)
4. court's analysis of jurisdiction and prior orders (Para 4)
5. refusal to exercise extraordinary writ jurisdiction (Para 5)

JUDGMENT

Manoj Bajaj, J. (Oral)

This writ petition has been filed under Article 226 Constitution of India for issuance of a writ of Certiorari for quashing the impugned order dated 25.08.2020 (Annexure P-1) passed by respondent No.2, whereby the order dated 25.10.2019 (Annexure P-3) passed by respondent No.3 was set aside and the case was remanded back to decide afresh on merits after giving proper opportunity to the parties to lead evidence.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner Angrej Kaur (senior citizen) lost her husband Kartar Singh on 17.11.2014 and applied for maintenance under Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 against her son, namely, Pritam Singh-respondent No.5, who got transferred land owned by her husband in his favour. Learned counsel has pointed out that after transfer of this immoveable property in favour of her son, she was left with no source of income, much less any land and prayed that the instrument be cancelled, however, vide order dated 08.10.2015 (Annexure P-2), the respondent No.5 was directed to pay a monthly maintenance of Rs.15,00/- p.m. to his mother. Learned counsel has pointed out that since this order was not complied with, therefore, the petitioner preferred execution wherein the executing Court vide its order dated 25.10.2019 cancelled the transfer deed dated 13.12.2011 with an observation that the property would be shared by the legal heirs of Kartar Singh in equal shares. Learned counsel has further submitted that the order dated 25.10.2019 is a reasoned order, therefore, the appellate authority has exceeded its jurisdiction in setting aside the same and remanded the case back before the executing Court to decide it afresh. Learned counsel submits that the order dated 08.10.2015 is clear that the maintenance is being awarded from the income derived from the land transferred in favour of respondent No.5, wherein it was also held that in case, the maintenance is not paid, then appropriate action would be taken against him under this act. She prays that the impugned order be set aside.

3. The prayer is opposed by the learned counsel for the respondent No.5, who has argued that once the order dated 08.10.2015 only awards maintenance in favour of the senior citizen, the executing Court could not have ordered cancellation of the transfer deed dated 13.12.2011. He submits that son (respondent No.5) had been paying the maintenance regularly to the mother and only for a short period, he could not make the payment of maintenance, as there was a domestic dispute. He submits that the appellate Court has carefully examined the material on record as well as the nature of the impugned order while setting it aside and remanding it back before the executing Court to pass a fresh order. He prays that the writ petition be dismissed.

4. After hearing the learned counsel for the parties and considering the material on record, this Court finds that the transfer deed dated 13.12.2011 relating to the land in question was executed by Kartar Singh, husband of the petitioner and during his life time, he never raised any grievance in respect of this transfer. Further, once the order dated 8.10.2015 has extended a limited relief to the senior citizen i.e. monthly maintenance and it was never challenged by the senior citizen to press her claim for cancellation of the instrument dated 13.12.2011, the executing Court exceeded its jurisdiction in moulding the relief. A perusal of the impugned order passed by the appellate Court shows that it has carefully examined the material on record while accepting the appeal against the impugned

Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top