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2024 Supreme(All) 348

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
SURENDRA SINGH-I, J.
Rakhi @ Rekha - Revisionist
Versus
State of U.P. and Another - Opposite Parties
Criminal Revision No. 167 Of 2023
Decided On : 13-03-2024

Advocates Appeared:
For the Revisionist : Jayant Kumar, Kanhiya Lal Chauhan.
For the Opposite Parties : Sandeep Kumar Srivastava.

IMPORTANT POINT
The main legal point established in the judgment is the determination of maintenance allowance based on the husband's income and the wife's capacity to earn, in accordance with the provisions of Section 125 and Section 127 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Headnote:

Maintenance Allowance - Criminal Revision - Section 125 Cr.P.C. - Section 127 Cr.P.C. - [125, 127] - The court discussed the provisions of Section 125 and Section 127 of the Criminal Procedure Code, emphasizing the purpose of providing maintenance to destitute wives and children and the grounds for alteration of maintenance allowance. The court also considered the legal principles established by previous judgments regarding the determination of maintenance allowance based on the husband's income and the wife's capacity to earn.

Fact of the Case:

The revisionist sought enhancement of the maintenance allowance granted by the trial Court, citing the meagre amount in comparison to the husband's income. The opposite party No.2 did not challenge the impugned order, and the trial Court's findings regarding the marriage and reasons for the revisionist residing away from the opposite party became final.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the trial Court had not considered the evidence on record while fixing the maintenance allowance, and the amount awarded was on the lower side. The court also addressed the preliminary objection raised by the opposite party No.2 regarding the maintainability of the criminal revision.

Issues: The issues involved the quantum of maintenance payable to the revisionist, the grounds for seeking enhancement, and the maintainability of the criminal revision under Section 127 Cr.P.C.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the revisionist could file a criminal revision for enhancement of maintenance allowance if the amount was fixed against the evidence on record. It also clarified the circumstances under which alteration of maintenance allowance could be done under Section 127 Cr.P.C.

Final Decision: The court allowed the criminal revision, setting aside the impugned order and enhancing the maintenance allowance to Rs.10,000 per month, approximately 25% of the husband's net monthly income. The opposite party No.2 was directed to pay the arrears of maintenance allowance in four equal instalments within four months.

JUDGMENT :

By means of the instant criminal revision, revisionist has assailed the judgement and order dated 01.11.2022 passed by Principal Judge, Family Court, Amroha in Case No.05 of 2019 (Smt. Rakhi vs. Amit Kumar), under Section 125 Cr.P.C., Police Station Amroha, District Amroha.

2. By the impugned order, the trial Court has granted monthly maintenance allowance of Rs.5,000/- to the revisionist from the date of presentation of application under Section 125 Cr.P.C. The revisionist has prayed for enhancement of maintenance allowance granted by the trial Court in her favour. The opposite party No.2 has not challenged the aforesaid impugned order, therefore, findings in the impugned judgment and findings regarding the marriage of the revisionist with opposite party No.2 as well as there being sufficient reason for her residing away from the opposite party No.2, has become final.

3. It has been submitted by the learned counsel for the revisionist that this criminal revision has been filed on the point of quantum of maintenance payable to the revisionist contending that it is quite meagre considering the monthly net income of the opposite party No.2 (husband). The averments have been made on behalf of the revisionist that admittedly opposite party No.2 is working in Indian Navy and he is getting monthly salary of about Rs.35,000/- to 40,000/- per month. The trial Court may have fixed at-least 25 % of the net monthly salary of the opposite party No.2, but trial Court has awarded maintenance allowance of Rs.4000/- till date of order, and thereafter, Rs.5000/-, which is on the lower side. It has also been submitted that trial Court has not given any reason for fixing aforesaid monthly maintenance allowance payable to the revisionist. It has also been submitted that earlier trial Court vide judgment and order dated 11.02.2020 had ex-parte granted Rs.12,000/- per month as interim maintenance allowance to the revisionist. Later on, recall application under Section 126 (2) Cr.P.C. was filed by the opposite party No.2, which was allowed and there is no ground to provide the revisionist lesser monthly maintenance allowance than the interim one, since the trial Court passed the impugned judgment and order without considering the evidence on record and without applying judicial mind it should be enhanced.

4. Per contra, learned counsel for the opposite party No.2 has submitted that trial Court has passed the impugned judgment and order on the basis of oral and documentary evidence on record and there is no ground to make interference into it. It has also been submitted that interim maintenance was passed ex-parte without considering the contentions raised by the opposite party No.2. The trial Court has rightly granted a reasonable maintenance allowance, which is not liable to be altered.

5. Learned counsel for the opposite party No.2 has raised objection about the maintainability of the criminal revision and contended that the revisionist should have filed an application under Section 127 Cr.P.C. in the trial Court itself for enhancement of the amount of monthly maintenance allowance. It has also contended that since there is a statutory provision for enhancement of the amount of maintenance allowance under Section 127 Cr.P.C., the criminal revision for such enhancement is not maintainable in this Court.

6. Heard Sri Jayant Kumar, learned counsel for the revisionist, learned A.G.A. for the State and Sri Sandeep Kumar Srivastava, learned counsel for opposite party no.2.

7. The revisionist has filed instant criminal revision for enhancement of the amount of monthly maintenance allowance not on the ground of change of circumstances, since the order was passed but on the ground that the trial court while fixing the amount of monthly maintenance allowance has not considered the evidence on record, therefore, order passed is illegal or liable to be altered.

8. Learned counsel for the opposite party No.2 has raised preliminary objection as per jurisdict

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