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2023 Supreme(MP) 99

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
Rajendra Kumar (Verma), J.
Bhagwandas v. Panpati Shah
Criminal Revision No. 1440 of 2022 (Jabalpur): against the order dated 25.3.2022 passed by the Principal Judge, Family Court, Singrauli in MJCR No. 120/2018; Decided on 12.5.2023

Advocates:
J. L. Soni for applicant;
Arvind Kumar Pathak for respondent.

Headnote:

(1) Criminal P. C., 1973 -- S. 125 -- purpose -- to ensure that women and children are protected from life of potential vagrancy and destitution -- meant to ameliorate financial suffering of woman who has left matrimonial home -- if husband has sufficient means, he is obligated to maintain his wife and children, and not shirk away from his moral and familial responsibilities -- meant to provide speedy remedy for supply of food, clothing and shelter to deserted wife. (2015) 6 SCC 353 followed. [Paras 12 & 14

(2) Criminal P. C., 1973 -- S. 125 -- “wife” -- divorce from first husband as per custom of caste -- divorce by such agreement not valid -- at time of alleged marriage with present applicant, respondent herein married to first husband and he was alive -- despite cohabitation as husband and wife, not legally tenable to raise presumption of valid marriage because both parties already married to their respective spouses and their marriages subsisting -- respondent cannot seek maintenance from present applicant under this provision. 2005 (II) MPWN 15 (SC) followed. (2011) 1 SCC 141 distinguished. (1985) 2 SCC 556, (1999) 7 SCC 675, (1988) 1 SCC 530 and (2005) 3 SCC 636 discussed. 1981 (II) MPWN SN 91 and 2017 (1) JLJ 251 referred to. [Paras 17 to 21

(3) Criminal P. C., 1973 -- S. 125 -- “wife” -- divorced woman, who does not have legal status of wife, included -- however, second wife whose marriage is void on account of survival of first marriage, not legally wedded wife and therefore not entitled to maintenance under this provision. (2011) 1 SCC 141 and (1991) 2 SCC 375 followed. [Para 19

¼1½ naM izfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 && èkkjk 125 && iz;kstu && lqfuf'pr djuk fd efgyk,¡ vkSj cPps laHkkfor vkokjkxnhZ vkSj fujkfJrrk thou ls lqjf{kr jgas && nkEiR;x`g NksM+us okyh efgyk dh foÙkh; ihM+k nwj djuk vk'kf;r && ifr ds ikl i;kZIr lk/ku gSa rks og vius uSfrd vkSj dkSVqafcd mÙkjnkf;Roksa ls th u pqjkrs gq,] viuh iRuh vkSj lrkauksa dk Hkj.k iks"k.k djus dks ck/; gSa && vfHkR;Dr iRuh dks Hkkstu oL= vkSj vkJ; iznku djus gsrq rRdky mipkj miyC/k djkuk vk'kf;rA ¼2015½6 ,l lh lh 353 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 12 ,oa 14

¼2½ naM izfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 && èkkjk 125 && ßiRuhß && izFke ifr ls tkfr dh :fढ+ ds vuqlkj fookg foPNsn && ,sls djkj ds ek/;e ls fookg foPNsn fofèkekU; ugha && orZeku vkosnd ds lkFk vfHkdfFkr fookg ds le; ,rfLeu~ izR;fFkZuh izFke ifr ls fookfgr rFkk og thfor && ifr&iRuh ds :i esa lgokl ds ckotnw] fof/kekU; fookg dh mi/kkj.kk djuk fof/kr% izfrik| ugha D;ksafd nksuksa i{kdkj igys ls gh vius&vius thoulkFkh ls fookfgr rFkk muds fookg vfLrRo esa && izR;fFkZuh orZeku vkosnd ls bl mica/k ds v/khu Hkj.k iks"k.k dh bZIlk ugha dj ldrhA 2005 ¼2½ e-iz- ohDyh uksV~l 15 ¼,l lh½ vuqlfjrA ¼2011½1 ,l lh lh 141 izHksfnrA ¼1985½2 ,l lh lh 556] ¼1999½7 ,l lh lh 675] ¼1988½1 ,l lh lh 530 rFkk ¼2005½3 ,l lh lh 636 foosfpr 1981 ¼2½ e-iz- ohDyh uksV~l ,l ,u 91 rFkk 2017 ¼1½ ts ,y ts 251 fufnZ"VA ¼iSjk 17 ls 21

¼3½ naM izfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 && èkkjk 125 && ßiRuhÞ && fofPNUu&fookg efgyk] ftls iRuh dh fof/kd izkfLFkfr izkIr ugha gksrh] lfEefyr && rFkkfi] f}rh; iRuh] ftldk fookg izFke fookg ds vfLrRo esa gksus ds dkj.k 'kwU; gS] fof/kr% fookfgr iRuh ugha vkSj blfy, bl mica/k ds v/khu Hkj.kiks"k.k dh gdnkj ughaA ¼2011½1 ,l lh lh 141 rFkk ¼1991½2 ,l lh lh 375 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 19

Judgement Key Points

No, duration of marriage (including 15 years) does not entitle a wife to maintenance under Section 125 Cr.P.C. if she is not a legally wedded wife. (!) [27000405600016][27000405600017] (!) (!) [27000405600019]

A woman is not entitled to maintenance if her marriage is void because she had a subsisting prior marriage without valid divorce, making her a "second wife" excluded from the definition of "wife." Customary or agreement-based divorce is invalid; only court-granted divorce is recognized. [27000405600003][27000405600016][27000405600017] (!) (!) (!) (!)

Cohabitation as husband-wife does not create a presumption of valid marriage if both parties have living spouses from prior subsisting marriages. Strict proof of lawful marriage is required, and a void marriage under Hindu law (due to living spouse) disqualifies maintenance claims. (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!)

Section 125 Cr.P.C. aims at social justice for destitute wives but limits "wife" to legally wedded or validly divorced women who have not remarried; second wives in void marriages are not covered. (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) [27000405600018][27000405600019]


ORDER

1. This criminal Revision has been preferred by the petitioner being aggrieved by the impugned order dated 25.3.2022 passed by learned Principal Judge Family Court, Singrauli, in MJCR No. 120/2018 whereby the application under section 125 Cr.P.C. filed by the respondent/wife has been partly allowed and the petitioner/husband has been directed to pay Rs.10,000/- per month to the respondent/wife from the date of application dated 27.9.2018.

2. The brief facts of the case are that the marriage of the petitioner/husband and respondent/wife has been solemnized on 29.3.2017 as per the Hindu rites and rituals at Amlori Shishu Mandir under the Mukhya Mantri Kanya Daan Yojana. Since the date of marriage, petitioner started to make pressure on the respondent to bring dowry from her parental home and when she denied, petitioner started to torture her and lastly he oust the respondent from his house on 11.8.2017. When no ground was left, respondent/wife file an application under section 125 Cr.P.C. before the learned Principal Judge Family Court, Singrauli (M.P.) as MJCR No. 120/2018 which was partly allowed vide order dated 25.3.2022, directing the petitioner/husband to pay Rs.10,000/- per month to the respondent/wife. Being aggrieved by the aforesaid order, instant Criminal Revision has been preferred.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner/husband submits that the marriage of the petitioner and respondent has been solemnized on 29.3.2017 as per the Hindu rites and rituals at Amlori Shishu Mandir under the scheme of Mukhya Mantri Kanya Daan Yojana. It is further submitted that the respondent/wife has filed an application under section 125 Cr.P.C. before the Principal Judge, Family Court, Singrauli, stating therein that, from the date of marriage, respondent (petitioner herein) used to misbehave with the applicant (respondent herein) for demand of dowry, she has been ousted on 11.8.2017 from her matrimonial house and since then, she is residing with her parents. Respondent is earning Rs.6,00,000/- from his agricultural business and also have a Pakka House and earning Rs.15,000/- per month on rent from that house and claiming Rs.25,000/- per month as maintenance along with litigation fee.

4. Petitioner appeared before the learned Family Court and submitted his reply stating therein that there was a settlement between the petitioner and respondent to get money and advantage of Rs.20,000/- from the scheme of Mukhya Mantri Kanya Daan Yojana which was being paid to the spouse who were intended to marry under the scheme. It is further submitted that the respondent has already married with one Sunil Kumar Gupta in the year, 2006-07 and after the lapse of 05-06 years, they both have been separated because of family dispute. Without taking divorce from the first husband, she cannot be said to be the legally wedded wife of the petitioner. On that basis alone, the application for maintenance is not maintainable.

5. It is also submitted that respondent/wife has sufficient means of income and is earning sufficiently to maintain herself. She is blackmailing the petitioner/husband and is residing in her parental home. On the aforesaid grounds, learned counsel for the petitioner/husband prays for setting aside the impugned order dated 25.3.2022.

6. Learned counsel appearing for respondent has supported the impugned order and oppose the prayer of petitioner and prayed for its rejection.

7. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties at length and gone through the record.

8. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the impugned order is bad on facts, bad in law, perverse, contrary and liable to be set-aside. Learned trial Court has totally ignored the unavailability of fundamental elements and passed the emotional order providing the maintenance amount. It is also submitted that, the learned Family Court has failed to consider the evidence on record and also the reply submitted by the applicant. The respondent/wife is a married lady and sh

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