IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
AT CHANDIGARH
T.A. No. 545 of 2019
DATE OF DECISION :- November 29, 2019
Santosh …Applicant
Versus
Parveen …Respondent
CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE H.S. MADAAN
Present:- Mr. Sumit Sangwan, Advocate for the applicant.
Mr. Wazir Singh, Advocate for the respondent.
***
Applicant Santosh, aged about 26 years, estranged wife of
Parveen-respondent, presently residing with her widowed mother at
Bhiwani on account of matrimonial discord between the spouses, by way of
filing the instant application seeks transfer of petition under Section 9 of the
Hindu Marriage Act filed by her husband Parveen against her having title
‘Parveen Vs. Santosh’ pending in the Court of Principal Judge, Family
Court, Panipat to the Court of competent jurisdiction at Bhiwani.
According to the applicant, the marriage performed between the
parties on 17.5.2010 ran into rough weather though the couple was not
blessed with any child. On account of maltreatment and harassment by
respondent and his family members, she had to leave the matrimonial home
and start residing with her widowed mother. The applicant has filed petition
under Section 125 Cr.P.C. against the respondent for maintenance. She has
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also filed a petition under Section 12 of Domestic Violence Act. She has
lodged an F.I.R. No. 142 dated 17.2.2019 under Sections 323, Section498A, Section506
IPC in Police Station City Bhiwani. She does not have any source of
income. It is difficult for her to travel from Bhiwani to Panipat covering a
distance of 130 kms on one side so as to attend the dates of hearing in the
Court there, therefore, the application be accepted.
Notice of the application was given to the respondent, who has
put in appearance through counsel vehemently opposing the application.
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.
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
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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 Principal
Judge, Family Court, Panipat and transferred to Family Court at Bhiwani for
disposal in accordance with law.
The parties through their counsel are directed to appear in the
transferee Court on 20.12.2019. Copies of orders be sent to the Court of
Principal Judge, Family Court, Panipat as well as to the Family Court at
Bhiwani for information and necessary compliance.
(H.S. MADAAN)
JUDGE
November 29, 2019
p.singh
Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No
Whether Reportable Yes/No
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