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2019 Supreme(Manipur) 41

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR
M.V. Muralidaran, J.
Aslam Khan (Md.) - Appellants
Vs.
Rajina and Ors. - Respondent
Crl. Rev. Pet. No. 21 of 2018
Decided On : 03-07-2019

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant :U. Naoba, Advocate

Headnote:

Criminal Procedure Code,1973 - Section 125 - Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Order 5, Rule 17, 19 and 20 - Seeking maintenance - Assailing ex parte order - Petitioner alleging that first respondent was married to petitioner in May under Manipur Muslim Customs and lived together as husband and wife at residence of petitioner at District Manipur till she was compelled to leave her matrimonial home for her parental home at District Manipur - It is stated that from wedlock respondent No. 2 was born and is staying with first respondent - It is stated that after birth of second respondent petitioner took one as his second wife and is now living with her - After taking his second wife petitioner began to neglect respondents and started ill-treating them by neglecting to provide food and other necessities - Since health of respondents became bad to worse they were compelled to leave the matrimonial home - It is also stated that first respondent has no source of income of her own and she has no one to support them - Held, Factum of knowledge of ex parte order by petitioner only when he received the summon in Criminal (Execution) Case on cannot be brushed aside and there is no denial on part of respondents - Though respondents contended in their counter-affidavit that there was a delay of years in filing petition said contention was not substantiated by oral and documentary evidence – Moreover despite opportunities respondents have not turned up to put forth their case – Thus it is clear that no proper service was effected on petitioner before Family Court and based on sole report of the Process Server Family Court set petitioner ex parte and proceeded to pass ex parte order - When there was infirmity and lapses in service of summon and no proper service effected on defendant ex parte order passed by Court below cannot be sustained - Petition stands Allowed

JUDGMENT :

M.V. Muralidaran, J.

1. This Criminal Revision Petition has been filed by the petitioner against the order dated 30.07.2016 passed in Criminal (Maintenance) Case No. 17 of 2015 on the file of the Family Court, Thoubal, Manipur.

2. The petitioner is the respondent and the first respondent is the first petitioner in Criminal (Maintenance) Case No. 17 of 2015. The second respondent is the son of the first respondent and the petitioner herein.

3. The respondents herein filed Criminal (Maintenance) Case No. 17 of 2015 under Section 125 Cr.P.C. seeking maintenance from the petitioner herein alleging that the first respondent was married to the petitioner in May, 2016 under Manipur Muslim Customs and lived together as husband and wife at the residence of the petitioner at Sora Maning Leikai P.O. & P.S. Kakching, District Thoubal, Manipur till she was compelled to leave her matrimonial home for her parental home at Yairipok Changamdabi P.O. & P.S. Yairipok District Thoubal, Manipur. It is stated that from the wedlock respondent No. 2 was born and is staying with the first respondent. It is stated that after the birth of the second respondent, the petitioner took one Marjina from Thoubal Moijing as his second wife and is now living with her. After taking his second wife, the petitioner began to neglect the respondents and started ill-treating them by neglecting to provide food and other necessities. Since the health of the respondents became bad to worse, they were compelled to leave the matrimonial home. It is also stated that the first respondent has no source of income of her own and she has no one to support them. According to the respondents, the petitioner was working as Jawan in the Indian Army and earning Rs. 40,000/- per month besides getting agricultural income of Rs. 1,00,000/- from the lands owned by him. Stating so, the respondents have filed Maintenance Case claiming maintenance of Rs. 20,000/- per month from the petitioner herein.

4. By the impugned ex parte order, the Family Court directed the petitioner herein to pay a sum of Rs. 10,000/- to the respondents as monthly maintenance from the date of application till the second respondent attains majority and thereafter, half the amount till further orders of the Court. The Family Court also directed that arrears if any be paid in instalments, if requested by the petitioner and as agreed by the respondents.

5. Assailing the ex parte order of the Family Court, the petitioner has filed the present revision contending that the impugned order has been passed in violation of principles of natural justice in as much as the petitioner was never served with summon/notice. It was contended that the Family Court has violated the provisions of Order 5, Rule 17, 19 and 20 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. According to the petitioner, he came to know about the existence of the impugned ex parte order dated 30.07.2016 only on 24.05.2018 when he received summons in Criminal (Execution) Case No. 2 of 2018. Thus, it is contended that there is failure of procedural law while passing the impugned ex parte order dated 30.07.2016 and that the impugned ex parte order is not sustainable in the eye of law and prayed for setting aside the same.

6. On the other hand, the respondents filed counter stating that though maintenance order was passed on 30.07.2016 and the execution proceeding for recovery of the maintenance amount started on 22.05.2018, the petitioner has failed to file petition to set aside the ex parte order. It is stated that the petitioner straight away filed the revision petition-by passing the Executing Court that too without the explanation of delay in his petition though there is a delay of two years and fifteen days. It is further stated that the proceeding under Section 125 Cr.P.C. is summary in nature and intended to provide speedy remedy to wife. According to the respondents, the revision petition is devoid of merits and prayed for dismissal of the same.

7. Though the

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