Madras High Court
D. Sathish Kumar vs D. Girija on 7 October, 2021
C.R.P.(PD)No.1932 of 2021
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 07.10.2021
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE G.CHANDRASEKHARAN
C.R.P.(PD)No.1932 of 2021
and C.M.P.No.16169 of 2021
(Through Video Conference)
D. Sathish Kumar .. Petitioner
Vs.
D. Girija .. Respondent
PRAYER: Civil Revision Petition filed under Article 227 of the Constitution
of India to set aside the Judgment and decree passed in I.A.No.260/2018 in
H.M.O.P.No.577 of 2017 c/w H.M.O.P.No.470/2017 dated 14.11.2019 on the
file of the Subordinate Judge, Poonamallee and dismiss the said application by
allowing the C.R.P. with cost.
For Petitioner : Mr.C.S.Saravnan
For T.Arivarasan
******
ORDER
This Civil Revision Petition is filed challenging the order passed in
I.A.No.260 of 2018 in H.M.O.P.No.577 of 2017.
2. The petitioner filed H.M.O.P.No.577 of 2017 against the respondent
under Section 13(1)(I-a) of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 for divorce. The
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C.R.P.(PD)No.1932 of 2021
respondent filed H.M.O.P.No.470 of 2017 under Section 9 of Hindu Marriage
Act against the petitioner for restitution of conjugal rights. The respondent filed
I.A.No.260 of 2018 seeking for a direction to the petitioner to pay a sum of
Rs.10,000/- per month, as maintenance for her and a sum of Rs.15,000/- per
month for her child's maintenance. Apart from the maintenance, a claim was
made for Rs.25,000/- towards litigation expenses and Rs.50,000/- towards
school fees of the child by the petitioner.
3. This petition is contested by the petitioner. The learned Subordinate
Judge, Poonamallee, on considering the rival contentions, directed the
petitioner to pay a sum of Rs.10,000/- per month (Rupees Ten Thousand only)
as interim maintenance to the respondent and her child and ordered to pay
school fees and other educational expenses of the child, till the disposal of
H.M.O.P.No.577 of 2017. Aggrieved over the said order, the present Civil
Revision Petition is preferred.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that due to the
matrimonial dispute between the petitioner and the respondent, the respondent
has given a police complaint against the petitioner. The petitioner was
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C.R.P.(PD)No.1932 of 2021
remanded and kept in jail for 23 days. Previously, he was working as Assistant
Professor in Vel Tech Engineering College and after his remand and
incarceration in prison, he became jobless. The respondent is now employed as
a Software Engineer and she is earning. In such circumstances, the order of
learned Subordinate Judge, Poonamallee directing the petitioner to pay a sum
of Rs.10,000/- per month (Rupees Ten Thousand only) as interim maintenance
is beyond the capacity of the petitioner to pay. Therefore, the petitioner prays
for setting aside the order of the learned Subordinate Judge, Poonamallee and
for dismissing the petition filed for interim maintenance.
5. Considered the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on
either sides and perused the records.
6. The order of the learned Subordinate Judge, Poonamallee shows that
both the parties have not produced any documents to show their assets and
liabilities. The petition was tested on the basis of averments made in the
petition and the counter affidavit. There is no evidence produced by the
petitioner to show that his wife is employed as a Software Engineer and
earning. Similarly, the respondent has also not produced any document to show
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C.R.P.(PD)No.1932 of 2021
that the petitioner is employed and earning. However, being the husband of the
respondent and father of the child, the petitioner is obligated to maintain his
wife and child. Both the petitioner and the respondent are highly educated. It is
not hard for the petitioner to find any other employment. The petitioner is duty
bound to maintain his wife and child and therefore, considering the present
economic scenario, the grant of maintenance of Rs.10,000/- per month to the
wife and child cannot be considered as excessive.
7. Therefore, this Court finds no reason to interfere with the order of the
learned Subordinate Judge, Poonamallee and confirms the same. The learned
counsel for the petitioner submitted that he may be granted some time for
clearing the arrears. In view of the request made by the petitioner, the petitioner
is given three(03) months time to clear the arrears i.e., the maintenance amount
ordered, from the date of application till the disposal of the petition.
8. The petitioner is also directed to pay the monthly maintenance amount
without any default, commencing from October 2021. If the petitioner is able to
prove that he is not employed and his wife is employed and earning money, it is
always open for him to approach the Trial Court for modification of the order
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C.R.P.(PD)No.1932 of 2021
granting interim maintenance. Accordingly, this Civil Revision Petition stands
Disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is
closed.
07.10.2021
Index : Yes/No
Speaking order/Non Speaking Order
sts/RAP
To:
The Subordinate Judge,
Poonamallee
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C.R.P.(PD)No.1932 of 2021
G.CHANDRASEKHARAN, J.,
sts/RAP
Order made in
C.R.P.(PD).No.1932 of 2021
Dated:
07.10.2021
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