Manpreet Kaur vs Satnam Singh
2022 Latest Caselaw 7576 P&H

TA-410-2022                                                        -1-



       IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT
                      CHANDIGARH

                                               TA-410-2022 (O&M)
                                               Date of decision: 22.07.2022

Manpreet Kaur
                                                                   ....Petitioner



                                         Vs.

Satnam Singh
                                                                 ....Respondent

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARVIND SINGH SANGWAN

Present:     Mr. Imran Farooqi, Advocate
             for the petitioner.

                   *******

ARVIND SINGH SANGWAN, J. (Oral)

Prayer in this petition is for transfer of the petition filed by the

respondent-husband under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act, pending in

the Court of Family Court, Nabha, District Patiala to the competent Court of

jurisdiction at Malerkotla.

Learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that on account

of a matrimonial discord, the petitioner has filed a petition under Section

125 Cr.P.C. and a petition/complaint under Prevention of Women from

Domestic Violence Act at Malerkotla. It is further submitted that on account

of a petition filed by the respondent-husband, the petitioner is facing great

difficulty in prosecuting the said case, as there is a distance of about 50 kms

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between Nabha and Malerkotla.

Learned counsel has further contended that the petitioner is

having two minor children, who are living in her care and custody and she is

facing difficulty to defend the case, as she has to travel from Malerkotla to

Nabha.

Learned counsel has relied upon the judgments Sumita Singh

Vs. Kumar Sanjay, 2002 SC 396 and Rajani Kishor Pardeshi Vs. Kishor

Babulal Pardeshi, 2005(12) SCC 237, wherein the Hon'ble Supreme Court

observed that while deciding the transfer application, the Courts are

required to give more weightage and consideration to the convenience of

the female litigants and transfer of legal proceedings from one Court to

another should ordinarily be allowed, taking into consideration their

convenience and the Courts should desist from putting female litigants

under undue hardships."

It is well settled that while considering the transfer of a

matrimonial dispute/case at the instance of the wife, the Court is to consider

family condition of the wife, custody of the minor child, economic condition

of the wife, her physical health and earning capacity of the husband and

most important, convenience of the wife i.e. she cannot travel alone without

assistance of a male member of her family, connectivity of the place to and

fro from her place of residence as well as bearing of the litigation charges

and travelling expenses.

After hearing the counsel for the petitioner, considering the fact

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that issuance of notice to the respondent has the consequences of staying

further proceedings before the trial Court, otherwise the petitioner-wife will

have to bear the litigation expenses and transportation expenses and in view

of the fact that even in case notice of motion is issued, even the

respondent/husband has to bear the litigation expenses and in view of the

judgments in Sumita Singh's case (supra) and Rajani Kishor Pardeshi's

case (supra) passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, this Court deem it

appropriate to allow the present petition, subject to the following

conditions:-

1. The petition filed under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act,

pending before the Family Court, Nabha, District Patiala will

be transferred to the competent Court of jurisdiction at

Malerkotla.

2. The District Judge, Sangur, will assign the said petition to the

competent Court of jurisdiction at Nabha.

3. The Family Court, Nabha, District Patiala is directed to

transfer all the record pertaining to the aforesaid case(s) to

District Judge, Sangrur.

4. The parties are directed to appear before the District Judge,

Sangrur, within a period of 01 month from today.

However, liberty is granted to the respondent to revive this

petition, if he intent to contest the same, provided that:-

(a) The respondent will clear all arrears of maintenance amount,

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if any, in terms of a petition filed by the petitioner either under

Section 125 Cr.P.C. or Section 12 of the Domestic Violence Act

or Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act.

(b) The respondent will file an affidavit giving undertaking to pay

Rs.1,000/- per day, to the petitioner for attending the Court

proceedings at Nabha, on each and every date of hearing.

(c) The respondent will bring a demand draft of Rs.25,000/-

towards the litigation expenses of the petitioner to pursue the

case at Nabha, in case the respondent opt to contest this

petition.

Present petition is disposed of accordingly.

[ ARVIND SINGH SANGWAN ] JUDGE 22.07.2022 vishnu

Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No

Whether reportable: Yes/No

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