Research › Browse › Judgment

Karnataka High Court · body

1995 DIGILAW 116 (KAR)

R. S. SHYAMALA v. G. RAJASEKHAR

1995-02-22

KUMAR RAJARATNAM

body1995
KUMAR RAJARATNAM, J. ( 1 ) CIVIL Petition No. 191/ 94 is filed by the husband praying for withdrawal of M. C. No. 593/93, on the file of the Principal Family Court, Bangalore, and to transfer the same to the court of IInd Additional Civil Judge, Mysore, where another M. C. No. 56/91 is pending and to try both the cases together. C. P. No. 520/93 is filed by the wife praying to withdraw M. C. No. 56/91, on the file of the IInd Additional Civil Judge, Mysore, and to transfer the same to the Court of Principal Family Court at Bangalore for being clubbed with M. C. No. 593 of 1993, on the file of the Principal Family Court at Bangalore for a common trial. ( 2 ) THE facts very briefly are that the marriage between the parties took place on 20-5-1974 at Bangalore. After the marriage the wife began to live with the husband at Mysore. They have two children. Children are in the custody of the husband. Due to matrimonial differences the wife was obliged to leave the house of the husband at Mysore on 4-2-1991. The husband filed a petition for divorce in M. C. No. 56/91 which is pending in. the court of Civil Judge at Mysore. The wife has only now entered appearance. The wife filed a petition against the, husband for restitution of conjugal rights on 12-8-1993 which is pending in M. C. Nos. 593/93 on the file of the Principal Family Court, Bangalore. The husband has entered appearance in that case and it is set for filing the objections by the husband. The husband has prayed that both the cases be tried at Mysore. His contention is that the children are in his custody and are studying in 3rd and 9th standards and that his presence is necessary to lookafter the children. Further it is contended that the husband is working in the Department Botany in J. S. College, at Mysore. The nature of work involves teaching and therefore his presence is necessary at Mysore. The husband also states that the petition filed by the wife for restitution of conjugal rights is only a counter-blast. The case of the wife is that she was driven out of the matrimonial home and she was forced to go to Bangalore to reside with her father. The husband also states that the petition filed by the wife for restitution of conjugal rights is only a counter-blast. The case of the wife is that she was driven out of the matrimonial home and she was forced to go to Bangalore to reside with her father. The wife is ready and willing to live with the husband and take care of the children. The father of the wife made several trips to Mysore taking his daughter, the wife, to enable them to reconcile their differences. The wife also states that the husband has managed to obtain certain medical certificates because of his influence at Mysore and therefore submits that both the cases ought to be tried at Bangalore. The wife is even now ready and willing to join the husband and that is why she was forcetd to file the petition for restitution of conjugal rights. The wife who is dependent on her father states that it is very difficult to travel to Mysore to attend the court proceedings. She has to incur expenses and she is unemployed and has to depend on her father for her maintenance. Sometimes on account of azards of litigation she will be obliged to stay overnight at Mysore and being a lady it would be difficult for her to stay alone at Mysore. The contention of the husband is that the wife is a mental patient and it is not possible to cure her disease. It is also stated by the husband that the wife was taken by her father for treatment at Nimhans, Bangalore. The divorce petition filed by the husband is under S. 13 (1) (iii) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, alleging that the wife is suffering from mental disorder. ( 3 ) LEARNED Counsel appearing for the husband submitted that his petition is earlier in point of time and therefore the petition filed by the wife should be withdrawn and transferred to the Court at Mysore. He further relied on the provisions of Section 21 A (2) rof the Act and stated that S. 21 A stipulates that petition presented later shall be transferred to the court in which the earlier petition was presented and both the petitions shall be heard and disposed of togther. Section 21 A deals with only petitions filed under Section 10 or Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act. Section 21 A deals with only petitions filed under Section 10 or Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act. The petition filed by the wife is under Sec. 9 of the Act for restitution of conjugal rights. Therefore S. 21a will have no application to the facts of the case. The second contention of the learned Counsel for the husband is that the wife has already entered appearance in the case filed by the husband at Mysore and that there could be no difficulty for the wife to attend the proceedings at Mysore. When the husband himself claims that the wife is suffering from mental disorder and was treated by a doctor, it appears that the wife by the very admission of the husband will not be in a position to travel to Mysore. In view of the allegations made by the husband that the wife is mentally unsound, I am not convinced that the wife should be forced to go to Mysore to contest the case, every time as she requires financial assistance from her father. ( 4 ) THE learned Counsel for the wife relied on a decision in the case of Manjulatha v. Dr. M. L. Narasimham, ILR 1985 (3) Kant 1413 wherein this Court has held as follows:"the headnote of Section 21 A specifies power to transfer petitions in certain circumstances. Section 21 A deals with petitions wherein a decree for judicial separation under Section 10 or divorce under Section 13 are filed and another Petition has been presented by the other party praying for a judicial separation or for a divorce in another Court on any ground whatsoever, the petition shall be dealt with in accordance with what is provided in sub-section (2 ). Therefore, the limited scope of Section 21 A is applicable to only cases of proceedings instituted for judicial separation and divorce and not otherwise. The guidelines given in Section 21a cannot be applied to the exercise of power under Section 23, CPC because 21 A of Hindu Marriage Act is applicable only in certain cases and is not exhaustive. Therefore, the limited scope of Section 21 A is applicable to only cases of proceedings instituted for judicial separation and divorce and not otherwise. The guidelines given in Section 21a cannot be applied to the exercise of power under Section 23, CPC because 21 A of Hindu Marriage Act is applicable only in certain cases and is not exhaustive. "in another decision in the case of Nanda Kishori v. S. B. Shivaprakash (AIR 1993 Kant 87) this Court has held as follows:"wherever Courts are called upon to consider the plea of transfer in matrimonial matters Courts have to take into consideration the economic soundness of either of the parties, the social strata of the spouses and the behavioural pattern of their standard of life antecedent to marriage and subsequent thereon and after the snap of the knot which resulted in marriage, the circumstances of either of the parties in eking out their livelihood and under whose protective umbrella they are seeking their sustenance of life. Where the suit was filed by husband for dissolution of marriage in the Family Court at the place, the transfer of suit to the place where wife was leading life of destitute with aged parents is permissible. "in view of the above decisions, and taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, I feel that it would be in the interest of justice and equity that the civil petition No. 520/ 93 filed by the wife has to be allowed. Accordingly the same is allowed. Consequently the proceedings in M. C. No. 56/91 on the file of the 2nd Additional Civil Judge, Mysore, is withdrawn and transferred to the Court of the Principal Family Court, Bangalore, for being clubbed with M. C. No. 593/93, pending on its file, and dispose of the same in accordance with law. Civil Petition No. 191 /94 filed by the husband is dismissed. The learned 2nd Additional Civil Judge, Mysore, is directed to transmit the papers in M. C. No. 56/91 to the Principal Family Court, Bangalore, as expeditiously as possible. Accordingly, the civil petition No. 520/93 filed by the wife is allowed and civil petition No. 191 /94 filed by the husband is dismissed. No order as to costs. Petition allowed. --- *** --- .