T.A. No. 1022 of 2018 1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
AT CHANDIGARH
T.A. No. 1022 of 2018
DATE OF DECISION :- March 15, 2019
Annu …Applicant
Versus
Himanshu Malik @ Rahul …Respondent
CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE H.S. MADAAN
Present:- Mr. Parveen Sharma, Advocate for the applicant.
Mr. Gurmeet Singh Guri, Advocate for the respondent.
***
By way of filing the present application, applicant Annu, aged
about 22 years, estranged wife of Himanshu Malik @ Rahul-respondent
presently residing with her parents at Village Kidholi Pahladpur, Tehsil
Kharkhoda, District Sonepat, seeks transfer of petition under Section 13 of
the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 filed by her husband Himanshu Malik @
Rahul against her having title ‘Himanshu Malik Vs. Smt. Annu’ pending in
the Court of District Judge, Family Court, Rohtak to the Court of competent
jurisdiction at Sonepat.
According to the applicant, the marriage was performed
between the parties on 19.4.2017 and thereafter they started residing
together, however, the respondent and his family members began to treat her
with curelty in connection with demand of dowry. She was forced to leave
the matrimonial home and start residing with her parents. The respondent
has filed a divorce petition against the applicant as a pressure tactic. The
applicant has lodged F.I.R. No. 338 dated 24.7.2018 for offences under
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T.A. No. 1022 of 2018 2
Sections 323, 376, 354, 498A, 511 IPC at Police Station Kharkhoda,
District Sonepat; that she has filed petition under Section 125 Cr.P.C
against the respondent in the Court at Sonepat. She being a young woman,
having no source of income, it is difficult for her to travel from her parental
place to Rohtak, as such, the application be accepted.
Notice of the application was given to the respondent, who has
appeared through counsel. It is contended that the distance between parental
place of applicant and Rohtak is only 41 kms whereas distance from parental
house of the applicant to Sonepat is 31 kms, as such she can easily come to
attend the dates of hearing in the Court at Rohtak.
I have heard learned counsel for the parties besides going
through the record.
The Apex Court in various judgments has observed that in
matrimonial disputes between the spouses convenience of wife should be
looked into. In that regard a reference can be made to authority Sumita Singh
Versus Kumar Sanjay and another, 2002 AIR(SC) 396 by a Division Bench
of Hon’ble Supreme Court.
In Bhartiben Ravibhai Rav Versus Ravibhai Govindbhai Rav,
2017(3) RCR(Civil) 369, the Apex Court had allowed application for transfer of
the divorce petition to a place where the wife was residing considering various
factors including the distance between the place where the wife was residing
and the place of sitting of the Court where divorce petition had been instituted
and the fact that the wife had filed two cases against her husband in the Court at
the place of her residence wherein the respondent had already put in
appearance.
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T.A. No. 1022 of 2018 3
In Apurva Versus Navtej Singh, 2017(2) Law Herald 966 by a
Co-ordinate Bench of this Court, it was observed that wherever the Courts are
called upon to consider the plea of transfer in matrimonial disputes, the Courts
have to take into consideration various factors like economic soundness of
either of the parties, the social strata of the spouses to which they belong and
behavioural pattern, standard of life antecedents of marriage. Generally it is the
wife’s convenience, which must be looked at by the Courts while deciding the
transfer application.
Keeping in view the contentions in the application and
submissions made by learned counsel for the applicant, in which I find merit,
in absence of any strong circumstance to the contrary, it would be proper and
appropriate if the application is accepted. The same is accordingly allowed.
The petition in question is ordered to be withdrawn from the Court of District
Judge (Family Court), Rohtak and transferred to Family Court at Sonepat for
disposal in accordance with law.
The parties through their counsel are directed to appear in the
transferee Court on 26.4.2019. Copies of orders be sent to the Court of
District Judge (Family Court), Rohtak as well as to the Family Court at
Sonepat for information and necessary compliance.
(H.S. MADAAN)
JUDGE
March 15, 2019
p.singh
Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No
Whether Reportable Yes/No
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