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GUJARAT HIGH COURT
Smt. Abhilasha Kumari, J.
Yama —Petitioner
versus
Ankit Manubhai Patel —Respondent
Special Civil Application No.6506 of 2014
Decided on 1.8.2014

Advocates:
Counsel for the Parties:
For the Petitioner No.1:Ms. Trusha K. Patel, Advocate
For the Respondent No.1:Dipak Patel For Mr. J.C. Vyas, Advocate

IMPORTANT POINT
Adjudicatory method and procedure ought to be in tune with aims and objects of Family Courts Act, at first instance, endeavour ought to be made to promote conciliation.

Headnote:Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 — Section 2 (s) & 17 — Shared household — Right to reside — Petitioner admittedly legally-wedded wife of respondent — No decree of separation or divorce has been granted in favour of respondent — Marriage between petitioner and respondent still subsists — HELD — During subsistence of marriage petitioner has right to reside in house of her husband. [Para 23]

       (ii) Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 — Section 2 (s) & 17 — Shared household — Right to reside — Trial Court made attempt to provide some kind of alternate accommodation to petitioner — HELD — Tone and tenor of impugned order prima-facie not in consonance with aims, objects and purpose — For which Family Courts Act enacted — Impugned order passed by Trial Court illegal, perverse and result of patently erroneous exercise of jurisdiction. [Paras 25 & 31]

       Result: Petition allowed

       

JUDGMENT

Smt. Abhilasha Kumari, J.—Rule. Mr.Dipak Patel, learned advocate, waives service of notice of Rule on behalf of the respondent. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case, and with the consent of learned counsel for the respective parties, the petition is being heard and decided finally.

2. The challenge in this petition, preferred under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, is to the order dated 10.4.2014, passed by the learned Judge, Family Court No.2, Ahmedabad (“the Family Court” for short), below the application at Ex.5, preferred by the respondent-husband in Family Suit No.1555 of 2013, whereby the ex-parte order of status quo granted in favour of the respondent on 15.11.2013, has been confirmed, with certain conditions.

3. Briefly stated, the relevant facts of the case are that the petitioner herein is the legally-wedded wife of the respondent. Their marriage took place on 30.4.2006 and out of the wedlock, a daughter, named, Henisha was born on 15.7.2007. Thereafter, on 15.11.2010, the petitioner gave birth to another daughter, named, Shanaya. According to the petitioner, after the birth of the second daughter, the respondent and his family members, who were expecting a son, started torturing her by making false and baseless allegations about her character. It is the case of the petitioner that the respondent, encouraged by his family members, was determined to divorce the petitioner because of the birth of a second daughter. The petitioner was pressurized and threatened to such an extent that she was forced to write a letter on 17.2.2012, upon the instructions of the respondent, admitting that she had an illicit relationship with one Chirag Patel. As per the case of the petitioner, because of the threat of divorce, she wrote the said letter as compelled by the respondent. According to the petitioner, she had no relationship of an illicit nature with the said Chirag Patel who is her brother-in-law, being married to a cousin of the petitioner. It is the case of the petitioner that her parents were also made to sign upon the letter under threat of divorce. Ultimately, on 27.2.2013, the petitioner was driven out of the matrimonial house with both her daughters. She was not permitted to take even her own clothes and belongings, or those of daughters, and had to leave the house in the clothes she was wearing. The petitioner had no other option but to go and reside at her paternal house. All the while, the petitioner expected that with the passage of time, the respondent and her in-laws would accept the factum of the birth of the second daughter. However, no positive or constructive action was taken from the side of the respondent. It is further the case of the petitioner that the harassment by the respondent did not stop even after she was made to leave the matrimonial house. Time and again, the respondent used to send the petitioner messages on the mobile phone in abusive language, threatening that he would ensure that their marriage results in a divorce. In those messages, the respondent has not only abused the petitioner but also her relatives, including her father and uncle. The respondent is repeatedly pressurizing the petitioner to give a divorce. However, the petitioner is interested in a reunion with the respondent and in continuing her marriage, in the interest of her two minor daughters. She, therefore, continued to request the respondent not to insist for a divorce. On 15.11.2013, the respondent filed Family Suit No.1555 of 2013, seeking a declaration to the effect that the petitioner is not entitled to enter the matrimonial house, being, 19, Heritage Residency, Thaltej, Ahmedabad. In addition to the said declaration, the respondent also sought a permanent injunction against the petitioner, along with other ancillary relief’s. Along with the suit, the respondent filed an application at Ex.5, for the grant of a temporary injunction, restraining the petitioner from entering into the matrimo




























































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