Consolidation of matrimonial disputes in one court is essential for judicial efficiency and the welfare of children involved.

O R D E R

The above petitions have been filed under Section 24 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Transfer petition No.82/2009 is filed by the wife and the respondent, husband. Transfer petition No.198/2009 is filed by the husband in which the respondents are the wife, the child of the spouses and the father of the wife. The wife has filed two petitions, one for maintenance numbered as O.P 389/2008 before the Family Court, Trissur, under section 125 of the Code of Civil Procedure against the husband claiming maintenance for the child, aged two years, born out of their wedlock. She has filed another petition as O.P 1735/2008 against the husband, that too before the Family Court, Trissur seeking return of the gold ornaments and valuables alleged to have been entrusted with him. The husband has filed another O.P No.846/2008 for dissolution of the marriage before the Family Court, Kollam. The wife seeks transfer of O.P 846/2008 from the Family Court Kollam to the Family Court Trissur whereas the husband seeks transfer of O.P 1735/2008 from the Family Court Trissur to Family Court Kollam.

2. Having regard to the facts and circumstances and submissions made I find that notice to respondents 2 and 3, the child and father of the wife, are not necessary, and it is dispensed with. Father of wife is not a party in any of the proceedings, and child is represented by its mother.

3. The wife employed abroad is stated to be an IT professional, and at present the various proceedings relating to the matrimonial disputes with her husband on her behalf are conducted by her father, who is her power of attorney. It is her case that her father/power of attorney has undergone a bypass surgery and he is not in a position to travel to Kollam where the proceedings initiated by the husband as O.P No.846/2008 is being prosecuted. The learned counsel for the wife would further submit that she is returning home leaving her job abroad by August 2009 and intends to settle down at Trissur with her parents. The only child of the spouses, aged two years, is admittedly under the care and protection of the maternal grand parents who are settled at Trissur. Though the husband has sought for transfer of O.P 1735/2008 on the file of Family Court, Trissur to Family Court, Kollam, he has not requested for transfer of O.P 389/2008, the claim for maintenance made on behalf of the child and that is a circumstance indicating his concern for the child though the spouses have separated for what ever reason that be. But that concern for the child has to be appreciated in the backdrop how the child would be affected if the grandfather the power of attorney of the wife, probably, the only male member of the family is forced to attend the case on behalf of his daughter at a place nearly 250 Kms. away from his residence. Needless to point out the separation of the spouses will be having its impact on the child. At this stage if the care of the grand father also is deprived that would in all probabilities affect her mental and physical growth and wellbeing. The child is at present under the care and protection of the grand parents. I do not find any reason to doubt the submission of the learned counsel for the wife that her father, the power of attorney, has undergone a bypass surgery. If that be so, the interest on justice demand the transfer of O.P 846/2008 from the Family Court Kollam to Family Court Trissur so that the same court will be in a position to adjudicate all the cases. If that Family Court on transfer of cases finds that a joint trial of two or more cases is feasible that course can also be adopted. Further more the transfer of all the cases to one court will be convenient to the parties, avoid loss of precious time of the court and rule out the chance of conflicting decisions, the possibility of which cannot be ruled out if the cases are separately tried in two courts. So Transfer petition 82/2009 is allowed ordering the Family Court Kollam to transfer O.P 846/2008