In matrimonial transfer applications, the convenience of the wife, particularly regarding financial constraints and travel distance, is the primary consideration for determining the venue of the proceedings to ensure the ends of justice.

Order

1. The present transfer application has been filed with the prayer for transfer of Case No.565/2025 (Pankaj Agarwal Vs. Smt. Jyoti Agarwal) under Section 13 of The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Act of 1955’) pending before Family Court No.3, Udaipur.

2. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner-wife is presently residing at Chittorgarh and would be required to travel a considerable distance to attend the proceedings at Udaipur. It is further submitted that the petitioner-wife being an unemployed lady having no independent source of income would face additional financial constraints in travelling such a distance repeatedly on every date.

3. Counsel further submits that other proceedings are also pending between the parties at Chittorgarh. It has therefore been prayed that the pending application at Family Court No.3, Udaipur be transferred to Family Court, Chittorgarh.

4. Heard the counsel. Perused the record.

5. It is a well-settled proposition of law that in matrimonial matters generally, it is the wife's convenience which must be looked at while considering the plea of transfer. In N.C.V. Aishwarya Vs. A.S. Saravana Karthik Sha , (2022 INSC 1310) (decided on 18.07.2022), the Hon’ble Apex Court held as under:

“9. The cardinal principle for exercise of power under Section 24 of the Code of Civil Procedure is that the ends of justice should demand the transfer of the suit, appeal or other proceeding. In matrimonial matters, wherever Courts are called upon to consider the plea of transfer, the Courts have to take into consideration the economic soundness of both the parties, the social strata of the spouses and their behavioural pattern, their standard of life prior to the marriage and subsequent thereto and the circumstances of both the parties in eking out their livelihood and under whose protective umbrella they are seeking their sustenance to life. Given the prevailing socio-economic paradigm in the Indian society, generally, it is the wife's convenience which must be looked at while considering transfer.

6. So far as the plea of long-distance travel and no one in the family to accompany to the Court on each date of hearing and the resultant inconvenience to the petitioner-wife is concerned, Hon’ble the Apex Court in the case of Vaishali Shridhar Jagtap vs. Shridhar Vishwanath Jagtap ; 2016 INSC 504, held as under:

“3. According to the Appellant, her mother is aged and it is difficult for her mother to accompany the Appellant for her travel to Mumbai. It is also stated that there are three criminal cases one for maintenance, the second under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and the third Under Section 498A of The Indian Penal Code, 1860 and other related provisions, pending at Barshi, and one on the civil side for restitution.

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5. Admittedly, the distance between Mumbai and Barshi is around 400 kilometres. Four cases between the parties are pending at Barshi. Apparently, the comparative hardship is more to the appellant-wife. This aspect of the matter, unfortunately, the High Court has missed to take note of.

6. In view of the above, the impugned orders are set aside and the M. J.Petition No. 2287 of 2013 filed by the respondent-husband in Family Court Bandra, Bombay will stand transferred to the court of competent jurisdiction at Barshi.”

7. In view of the submissions made and in view of the settled position of law, this Court is of the opinion that the petitioner having no independent source of income would be at a comparatively more hardship if compell