Smt. Pooja Saxena And Another vs State Of U.P. And Another
2022 Latest Caselaw 1987 ALL

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD

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fnukad 18&4&2022 dks fuxjkuhdrkZ ¼Lo;a½ ,oa foi{kh la[;k 2 ds fo}ku vf/koDrk Jh ih;w"k nqcs dh cgl lquus ds mijkUr ekeyk fu.kZ; gsrq lqjf{kr dj fy;k x;k FkkA fu.kZ; fy[kkrs le; U;k;ky; us ;g mfpr le>k fd i{kdkj mPp f'kf{kr gS rFkk foi{kh la[;k 2 foosd ekFkqj ,d mPp lsok esa dk;Zjr gS vkSj dqN vkilh lw>&cw> dh deh ds dkj.k os vyx vyx jg jgsa gS vkSj ,d nwljs ds fo:} eqdnesa nkf[ky dj j[ksa gSaA rRi'pkr U;k;ky; us mfpr le>k fd ;fn i{kdkjksa dks cqykdj lqyg djk nh tk, rks i{kdkjksa dk nEifRr thou lq[ke; gks ldrk gSA blds ckn ekeyk fnukad 25&4&2022 dks lwph c} fd;k x;k rFkk i{kdkjksa dks U;k;ky; esa mifLFkr gksus gsrq vknsf'kr fd;k x;kA fnukad 25&4&2022 dks fuxjkuhdrkZ Jherh iwtk lDlsuk tks fd Lo;a ekeys dh iSjoh dj jgh gS] og U;k;ky; ds le{k mifLFkr jgh ijUrq foi{kh la[;k 2 foosd ekFkqj U;k;ky; ds le{k mifLFkr ugha gq, blfy, vkt 5&5&2022 dh frfFk iqu% lquokbZ ,oa i{kdkjksa dh mifLFkfr gsrq fu;r dh x;hA

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fuxjkuhdrkZ dk dFku gS fd mldh 'kknh fnukad 23&1&2003 dks fgUnw jhfr fjokt ls foi{kh la[;k 2 foosd ekFkqj ds lkFk lEiUu gqbZ FkhA o"kZ 2015 rd mudk nEifRr thou lq[ke; O;rhr gqvk rRi'pkr vkilh erHksn mRiUu gksus ds dkj.k mlus okn la[;k 598 o"kZ 2015 fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; ds le{k ;ksftr fd;k ftlesa mlds }kjk ;g vfHkdfFkr fd;k x;k fd mDr 'kknh esa mldh ek¡ us 15 yk[k :i;s [kpZ fd;k FkkA ;g Hkh dFku fd;k x;k fd 'kknh ds le; og ,l0 ,u0 esfMdy dkyst esa ,e0 Mh0 dh i<+kbZ dj jgh Fkh tc fd mlds ifr dh 2004 esa baQksfll] cSaxyksj esa ukSdjh dj jgs FksA ;g Hkh dFku fd;k x;k fd mlds ifr o mlds ifjokjhtu mlij cnukeh dk ykaNu yxkdj mldh ukSdjh NqMk nh ftlij twu] 2005 esa og foi{kh la[;k 2 foosd ekFkqj ds ikl cSaxyksj pyh x;hA uoEcj] 2005 esa fuxjkuhdrkZ dks Hkh viksyks gkfLiVy cSaxyksj esa ukSdjh fey x;h] ysfdu llqjky okyksa ds ncko esa mlus vizSy] 2006 esa ukSdjh NksM nhA mlds ckn mldk p;u ;wukbZVsM us'ku] fnYyh esa gks x;k ysfdu og ukSdjh Hkh mldks NksMuh iMh ftlds dkj.k ls og tqykbZ] 2006 ls csjkstxkj gSA fuxjkuhdrkZ }kjk ;g Hkh dFku fd;k x;k fd mlds ifr foi{kh la[;k 2 us ;g dgk fd og ukSdjh ds lkFk&lkFk mPp f'k{kk izkIr djuk pkgrk blfy, fuxjkuhdrkZ viuh ukSdjh NksM nsa vkSj ?kj dk [;ky j[ksA bl izdkj mlus foi{kh la[;k 2 dh ckr ekudj yxHkx vkB lkyksa ls ?kj laHkky jgh gS vkSj foi{kh la[;k 2 ,p0 lh0 ,y0 dEiuh] cSaxyksj esa Mk;jsDVj ds in ij dk;Zjr gSA o"kZ 2008 esa i{kdkjksa ds lalxZ ls ,d lUrku mRiUu gqbZ ftlij mlds llqjky okyksa us fuxjkuhdrkZ ds fo:} ;g vkjksi yxk;k fd mDr larku foi{kh la[;k 2 dh ugha gS rc mlus Mh0 ,u0 ,0 VsLV dh ckr dgh rks foi{kh la[;k 2 rS;kj ugha gq, vkSj euk dj fn;k rRi'pkr fuxjkuhdrkZ dks foi{kh la[;k 2 o mlds ifjokjhtu }kjk izrkfMr djuk izkjEHk dj fn;k x;k vkSj fnukad 26&3&2014 dks foi{kh la[;k 2 us fuxjkuhdrkZ ds fo:} rykd dk okn ;ksftr dj fn;k ftlesa fuxjkuhdrkZ us rykd nsus ls euk dj fn;kA blh nkSjku foi{kh la[;k 2 us vius edku dks viuh cgu 'kkfyuh gkaMw dks fxQV dj fn;kA bl izdkj foi{kh la[;k 2 o mlds ifjokjhtu dh izrkMuk ds dkj.k fuxjkuhdrkZ fnukad 16&2&2015 ls viuh ek¡ ds ikl jg jgh gSA fuxjkuhdrkZ }kjk ;g Hkh dFku fd;k x;k fd foi{kh la[;k 2 dh vk; izfrekg ikap yk[k :i;s ds Åij dh gSA blds vykok vU; lzksrksa ls Hkh mldh ,d yk[k :i;s izfrekg dh vkenuh gSA ;g Hkh dFku fd;k x;k fd foi{kh la[;k 2 us ,d QySV ,d djksM lRrkbZl yk[k :i;s dk dz; dj j[kk gS blds vykok cSaxyksj esa mlds pkj IykV gS ftudh dher nks djksM :i;s gS vkSj mlds ikl yXtjh xkMh Hkh gSA ;g Hkh dFku fd;k x;k fd fuxjkuhdrkZ ds iq= f'k[kj dh vk;q 12 o"kZ gS vkSj mlds fny esa Nsn gS ftldk lEiw.kZ [kpkZ fuxjkuhdrkZ ij fuHkZj gS og blh dkj.k ls ukSdjh Hkh ugha dj ldrh gSA uksfVl dh rkehyk ds ckotwn foi{kh la[;k 2 fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; ds le{k mifLFkr ugha gqvk tc fd foi{kh la[;k 2 ij uksfVl dh rkehyk i;kZIr ekuh x;h gSA fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us vkns'k fnukad 16&5&2016 ds }kjk fuxjkuhdrkZ Jherh iwtk lDlsuk dks foi{kh la[;k 2 foosd ekFkqj ls chl gtkj :i;s izfrekg rFkk ;kfpdk dh frfFk ls mlds iq= dks iUnzg gtkj :i;s izfrekg Hkj.k iks"k.k nsus gsrq vknsf'kr fd;k gSA fuxjkuhdrkZ }kjk ;g Hkh dFku fd;k x;k fd cdk;k ds lEca/k esa mls pkj yk[k vVBkou gtkj N% lkS :i;s dk Hkqxrku ugha fd;k x;k ftlds lEca/k esa mlus olwyh gsrq ,d okn l{ke U;k;ky; ds le{k izLrqr dj j[kk gS tks fopkjk/khu gSA fuxjkuhdrkZ }kjk ;g Hkh dFku fd;k x;k fd foi{kh la[;k 2 o mlds ifjokjhtu ds fo:} mlus ?kjsyw fgalk vf/kfu;e ds vUrxZr ,d okn ;ksftr fd;k Fkk ftlesa vkns'k fnukad 17&7&2018 ds }kjk iPphl gtkj :i;k izfrekg varfje Hkj.k iks"k.k gsrq vknsf'kr fd;k x;k Fkk mDr ekeyk vafre fuLrkj.k gsrq yfEcr gSA ;g Hkh dFku fd;k x;k fd mDr vkns'k fnukad 17&7&2018 dks ikfjr fd;k x;k gS ijUrq vkt rd mldk Hkh dksbZ Hkqxrku fuxjkuhdrkZ dks ugha fd;k x;k tc fd olwyh dk vkns'k ikfjr fd;k tk pqdk gSA fuxjkuhdrkZ }kjk ;g Hkh dFku fd;k x;k fd foi{kh la[;k 2 us mlds fo:} tks rykd dk okn ;ksftr fd;k Fkk og fnlEcj] 2017 esa [kkfjt gks pqdk gS ftlds fo:} foi{kh la[;k 2 us mPp U;k;ky;] jktLFkku] tks/kiqj ihB ds le{k vihy ;ksftr dh gS tks fopkjk/khu gSA fuxjkuhdrkZ }kjk ;g Hkh dFku fd;k x;k fd ftl le; mls izrkfMr djus dh dk;Zokgh dh x;h ml le; mldk ifr foi{kh la[;k 2 ,p0 lh0 ,y0 dEiuh] cSaxyksj esa Mk;jsDVj ds in ij dk;Zjr Fkk vkSj ml le; og yxHkx ikap yk[k :i;s izfrekg osru izkIr djrk Fkk rFkk mudk jgu&lgu Hkh mPp Lrj dk Fkk vkSj mudk iq= ml le; 6 o"kZ dk Fkk tks cSaxyksj esa ;wjksfdM esa i mDr ds foijhr foi{kh la[;k 2 ds fo}ku vf/koDrk Jh ih;w"k nqcs }kjk ;g rdZ j[kk x;k fd fuxjkuhdrkZ ,d mPp f'kf{kr efgyk gS vkSj ,e0 Mh0 ikl gSA og dgha Hkh ukSdjh djds viuk o vius iq= dk ikyu iks"k.k djus esa lkeFkZ gSA ,slh n'kk esa fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk tks 35][email protected]&:i;k mls o mlds iq= dks nsus gsrq funsZf'kr fd;k x;k gS og mfpr gS vkSj mls c mHk; i{kksa ds e/; ;g rF; Lohdk;Z gS fd foi{kh la[;k 2 tks fuxjuhdrkZ dk ifr gS og ,p0 lh0 ,y0 dEiuh] cSaxyksj esa Mk;jsDVj ds in ij dk;Zjr gS vkSj osru iphZ ds vk/kkj ij mldk ekfld osru 2]24][email protected]&:i;k gS rFkk mlds ikl vPNs vkSj ikW'k bykds esa nks QySV gS ftlesa ls ,d dks mlus fdjk;s ij mBk j[kk gS ftlls mls 35][email protected]&:i;k izfrekg fdjk;k feyrk gSA fuxjkuhdrkZ iwtk lDlsuk tks fd ,d mPp f'kf{kr efgyk gS vkSj ftlus fpfdRlh; {ks= esa ,e0 Mh0 dj j[kh gS mldh 'kknh fnukad 23&1&2003 dks foi{kh la[k 2 ds lkFk lEiUu gqbZ Fkh rFkk mlus viksyks gkfLiVy o ;wukbVsM us'ku fnYyh esa ukSdjh dh Fkh ftls mlus vius llqjkyokyksa ds ncko esa o"kZ 2006 esa NksM fn;k vkSj rc ls og csjkstxkj gSA o"kZ 2008 esa ,d larku mRiUu gqbZ ftlds fny esa Nsn gS vkSj mldk bykt py jgk gSA llqjkyokyksa us fuxjkuhdrkZ ij cnukeh dk ykaNu yxk;k Fkk vkSj mls izrkfMr djus yxs FksA lkFk gh mlds fo:} o"kZ 2014 esa mlds ifr us rykd dk eqdnek nkf[ky fd;k Fkk tks foi{kh la[;k 2 ds fo:} fu.khZr gqvkA llqjky ds izrkMuk ds dkj.k og vius ek;ds esa vkdj jgus yxh vkSj mlds ckn mlus Hkj.k iks"k.k dk okn foi{kh la[;k 2 ds fo:} ;ksftr fd;k ftlesa fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk mls 25][email protected]&:i;k rFkk mlds iq= dks 15][email protected]&:i;k izfrekg Hkj.k iks"k.k ds :i esa nsus dk vkns'k ikfjr fd;k x;k gS tks vR;ar vYi gS ftlls og u viuk vkSj u gh vius iq= dk ikyu iks"k.k] f'k{kk]nok vkfn dj ik jgh gS vkSj u gh ml jgu lgu esa jg ik jgh gSA ftl jgu lgu esa og vius llqjky esa jg jgh FkhA

iRuh }kjk ekaxk x;k xqtkjk HkRrk dksbZ Hkh[k ugh gS cfYd mldk ekSfyd vf/kdkj gS ftls gj gkyr esa iwjk djuk ifr dk dRo;Z gSA Hkj.k iks"k.k gj iRuh] larku ,oa ekrk firk dks ;g vf/kdkj nsrk gS fd ;fn os iw.kZr;k iq= ij vk/kkfjr gS vkSj og LoLFk gS rks ifr vFkok iq= dh ftEesnkjh gS fd og viuh iRuh vius iq= ,oa ekrk firk dk ikyu iks"k.k djs vkSj ;fn og ,slk ugha djrk gS rks gj iRuh] iq= o ekrk firk dks dkuwuh vf/kdkj izkIr gS fd ifr ;k iq= ls ikyu iks"k.k dk nkok dj ldrsa gS] ftlsa gj gkyr esa ifr vFkok iq= dks iwjk djuk gh gksrk gSA xqtkjk HkRrk ifr ds ;k iq= ds jgu lgu ds vuq:i gh gksuk pkfg,A ,slk fcYdqy izrhr u gks fd ifr vf/kd vk; izkIr djds vyh'kku edku esa jgrs gq, vius jgu lgu dks vPNh rjg ls j[ks vkSj tks xqtkjk HkRrk ifr viuh iRuh dks ns jgk gS] mlls iRuh viuk jgu lgu ifr ds vuq:i u dj ldsA xqtkjk HkRrk dk vk'k; bruk gS fd iRuh ftl jgu lgu ds lkFk iwoZ esa ifr ds lkFk jg jgh Fkh] ogh lqfo/kk vkSj jgu lgu mls ifr ls vyx gksus ij Hkh feyuk pkfg,A U;k;ky; dks iRuh vkSj mlds iq=ksa dk ikyu iks"k.k fu/kkZfjr djrs le; ;g /;ku esa j[kuk pkfg, fd mlds }kjk fu/kkZfjr Hkj.k iks"k.k] ifr dh vk; ftlesa ml ij vkfJr ekrk firk] HkkbZ cgu vkfn 'kkfey gSA lkFk gh chekj iRuh vkSj mlds chekj iq= o f'k{kk dks /;ku esa j[krs gq, fu/kkZfjr djuk pkfg, fd mlls ifr ij vfrfjDr cks> u iMsA

Rajnesh vs. Neha and Ors. (04.11.2020 - SC) : MANU/SC/ 0833/2020

III-Criteria for determining quantum of maintenance :

The factors which would weigh with the Court inter alia are the status of the parties; reasonable needs of the wife and dependant children; whether the Applicant is educated and professionally qualified; whether the Applicant has any independent source of income; whether the income is sufficient to enable her to maintain the same standard of living as she was accustomed to in her matrimonial home; whether the Applicant was employed prior to her marriage; whether she was working during the subsistence of the marriage; whether the wife was required to sacrifice her employment opportunities for nurturing the family, child rearing, and looking after adult members of the family; reasonable costs of litigation for a non-working wife.

The maintenance amount awarded must be reasonable and realistic, and avoid either of the two extremes i.e. maintenance awarded to the wife should neither be so extravagant which becomes oppressive and unbearable for the Respondent, nor should it be so meagre that it drives the wife to penury. The sufficiency of the quantum has to be adjudged so that the wife is able to maintain herself with reasonable comfort.

62. The Courts have held that if the wife is earning, it cannot operate as a bar from being awarded maintenance by the husband. The Courts have provided guidance on this issue in the following judgments.

63. In Shailja and Anr. v. Khobbanna,12 this Court held that merely because the wife is capable of earning, it would not be a sufficient ground to reduce the maintenance awarded by the Family Court. The Court has to determine whether the income of the wife is sufficient to enable her to maintain herself, in accordance with the lifestyle of her husband in the matrimonial home.10 Sustenance does not mean, and cannot be allowed to mean mere survival.13

64. In Sunita Kachwaha and Ors. v. Anil Kachwaha MANU/SC/0964/2014 : (2014) 16 SCC 715 the wife had a postgraduate degree, and was employed as a teacher in Jabalpur. The husband raised a contention that since the wife had sufficient income, she would not require financial assistance from the husband. The Supreme Court repelled this contention, and held that merely because the wife was earning some income, it could not be a ground to reject her claim for maintenance.

92. In Badshah v. Urmila Badsha Godse MANU/SC/1084/ 2013: (2014) 1 SCC 188, the Supreme Court was considering the interpretation of Section 125 Code of Criminal Procedure. The Court held:

13.3. ...purposive interpretation needs to be given to the provisions of Section 125 Code of Criminal Procedure While dealing with the application of a destitute wife or hapless children or parents under this provision, the Court is dealing with the marginalised Sections of the society. The purpose is to achieve "social justice" which is the constitutional vision, enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution of India. The Preamble to the Constitution of India clearly signals that we have chosen the democratic path under the Rule of law to achieve the goal of securing for all its citizens, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. It specifically highlights achieving their social justice. Therefore, it becomes the bounden duty of the courts to advance the cause of the social justice. While giving interpretation to a particular provision, the court is supposed to bridge the gap between the law and society.

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