UTTARAKHAND HIGH COURT
U.C Dhyani, J.
Suresh Giri —Revisionist
versus
State of Uttarakhand & Anr. —Respondents
Criminal Revision No. 265 of 2007
Decided on 3.12.2013
Counsel for the Parties:
For the Revisionist: None.
For the State/Respondent No.1:S.S. Adhikari, Advocate.
For the Respondent No.2: None.
Headnote:Criminal Procedure Code, 1973—Sections 125, 127—Application for grant for monthly maintenance allowance filed by applicant against her husband—Allowed by Family Court directing husband to pay a sum of Rs.1,000 as monthly maintenance allowance to wife—Application for enhancement of maintenance filed by wife—Allowed by Family Court—Revision thereagainst—Gross monthly income of applicant’s husband in the year 2003 was Rs.13,289 which was increased in the year 2007 to Rs.17,395—Hence Family Court committed no mistake in enhancing monthly maintenance allowance of wife from Rs.1,000 to Rs.2,000—No illegality or infirmity found in the impugned order passed by Court below—Revision having no merit dismissed. (Paras 5 to 7)
Result: Revision dismissed.
U.C. Dhyani, J.— An application under Section 125 of Cr.P.C. for grant of monthly maintenance allowance was filed by the applicant (respondent No.2 herein) against her husband (revisionist herein).
2. Husband contested the application and filed written statement. After considering the application and written statement, learned Judge, Family Court, Haridwar, allowed the application under Section 125 of Cr.P.C., vide order dated 30.7.2003. Husband was directed to pay a sum of Rs.1,000 as monthly maintenance allowance to his wife. The husband was further directed to pay said amount by the 10th of every month. Thereafter, an application under Section 127 of Cr.P.C. for enhancement of monthly maintenance allowance was moved by the wife against her husband. Husband filed objections against said application. After hearing both the sides and having perused the documents brought on record, learned Addl. Judge, Family Court, Roorkee, District Haridwar, allowed the application of the wife filed under Section 127 of Cr.P.C., vide impugned order dated 7.12.2007. The amount of monthly maintenance allowance was enhanced from Rs.1,000 to Rs.2,000. Husband was directed to pay enhanced monthly maintenance allowance from the date of passing of the order i.e. 7.12.2007. Aggrieved against the same, present criminal revision was preferred.
3. Mr. Pawan Kumar, Advocate (since deceased) moved such criminal revision. When present criminal revision was listed for hearing, notice was directed to be issued to the revisionist to enable him to engage a new counsel. Notice was issued to the revisionist. He was served personally with such notice on 6.8.2013. When criminal revision was again listed for hearing on 28.11.2013, none appeared on behalf of the revisionist. Respondent No.2 was already served earlier.
4. Even today none is present either for the revisionist or for respondent No.2. This Court has, therefore, sought assistance of Mr. S.S. Adhikari, Brief Holder to the State to decide the present criminal revision.
5.It was averred by the wife in her application under Section 125 of Cr.P.C. that she was married to Suresh Giri (revisionist herein) on 16.5.1973, according to Hindu rites and rituals. Three children were begotten by her out of said wedlock. Her husband was employed as Sr. Auditor (Accounts) in the Indian Army. Her husband also owned a house at Roorkee. He received Rs.3,000/- per month as rent from the said house. Her husband was also a moneylender and his additional income from money lending was Rs.5,000 per month. In his written statement, husband admitted most of the facts pleaded in the application under Section 125 of Cr.P.C. The only specific plea, which was taken by the husband in the written statement was that, he has not kept any concubine. Perhaps, on the basis of the admission of the husband on all vital points, the application under Section 125 of Cr.P.C. was allowed. Subsequent thereto, having moved an application under Section 127 of Cr.P.C. for enhancement of monthly maintenance allowance, although the objections were filed by the husband, but learned Addl. Judge, Family Court, Roorkee considered the pay-slip of the husband, who was working as Sr. Auditor (Accounts) in the Indian Army. The applicant wife was able to show before the court below that the gross monthly income of her husband in the year 2003 was Rs.l3,289. Husband’s salary in November 2007, as per the pay-slip, was Rs.17,395. Learned court below was convinced on the basis of pay-slip of the husband that application under Section 125 of Cr.P.C. for enhancement of interim maintenance allowance should be allowed keeping in view the inflation rate prevalent at the relevant time.
6. Learned court below, therefore, committed no mistake in enhancing the monthly maintenance allowance of the wife from Rs.1,000 to Rs.2,000 keeping in view the fact that the husband of the applicant-wife was drawing the monthly salary of Rs.17,395. There appears to be no ille