IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Sr. No.151 Date of Decision: 07.05.2026 MANDEEP SINGH ....Applicant Versus SATVIR KAUR .....Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ARCHANA PURI Present:- Mr. Arman Goyal, Advocate for the applicant.

Mr. Bhupinder Ghai, Advocate for the respondent.

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ARCHANA PURI, J. (Oral)

CM-8795-CII-2026 The present application has been filed at the behest of the respondent, for placing on record reply to the transfer application.

In view of the averments made in the application, same is allowed and the requisite reply is taken on record.

Main case The applicant-Mandeep Singh has filed the present application for seeking transfer of the petition under Section 13 of the Civil Procedure Code i.e. CS/27/2024, titled ‘Satvir Kaur Vs. Mandeep Singh’, filed by the respondent (ex-wife of the applicant), pending in the Family Court, SAS Nagar and he seeks transfer of the same to the Court of competent jurisdiction at Ambala.

In pursuance of notice issued, the respondent made appearance through counsel. Though, at first instance, counsel for the respondent had given a statement that he does not intend to file reply, but however, later on, he had filed reply.

Counsel for the parties heard.

At the very outset, it is submitted by the counsel for the applicant that the applicant is ex-husband of the respondent. He is permanently residing at USA and in the present application, he is represented through his attorney-holder. The marriage between the parties to the lis, had taken place on 18.11.2017. From their wedlock, one daughter was born in the year 2011, who is US citizen by birth. On account of the matrimonial dispute, the parties are residing separate since 05.01.2012. Further, counsel has submitted that the respondent had initiated litigation in USA and the proceedings eventually culminated in a final decree of divorce dated 09.06.2013. However, the respondent (ex-wife), had abducted the minor child, who is a US citizen by birth and absconded to India with all marital assets of significant value. Thereafter, the applicant was deprived of having any access to the only child born from the estranged marriage.

Also, counsel submits that the brother of the respondent, namely, Ajit Singh Lyallpuri, as well as her father-Gurmail Singh, are Advocates. Said Gurmail Singh is ex-President of Bar Association, Kharar. Even, her cousin i.e. Karan Singh, is a practising Advocate at Kharar, SAS Nagar, as well as Chandigarh. Even, the respondent herself is having LL.B.

and LL.M. degrees. Further, it is submitted that the applicant came to know about the fact that the respondent had filed a suit for declaration to assail the decree of divorce dated 09.06.2013, passed by the US Court and ex parte judgment dated 20.03.2018 was obtained by her, in a hasty manner, within a period of 7-8 months, without any intimation to the applicant. It is submitted that as soon as the applicant came to know about the same, he had filed an application under Order 9 Rule 13 CPC, for setting aside of the ex parte judgment and decree dated 20.03.2018. It was only after a period of 5 years that the said application was decided in the applicant’s favour and the suit had been restored and now, he is contesting the same.

Further, the counsel submits that there is too much of throwing of weight, at the instance of the respondent and her family members, who are full of advocates. In fact, counsel for the applicant, while making reference to the contents of the application, submits that father and brother of the respondent are habitual of manipulating things and vide judgment dated 18.03.2024, the father of the respondent was held guilty of professional misconduct and a fine of Rs.50,000/- was imposed upon Ajit Singh Lyallpuri, brother of the respondent. Also, counsel submits that earlier an application was filed by the applicant for seeking transfer of the said suit from the Courts at Kharar, to any other Court and the said application was allowed b