Divorced on Ground of Adultery then, Wife is not entitled for Maintenance: Bombay High Court

Kritika Pandey | Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda | 28th December 2019

Sanjivani Ramchandra Kondalkar Vs State of Maharashtra & ors. Criminal Writ Petition No.2546 of 2016

FACTS:

• The parties to the Petition married on 6.5.1980 whereas the Petitioner was divorced by the Respondent under section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1956 on 27.4.2000 on the ground of adultery.
• In the aforesaid background, the Petitioner-wife moved an application for enhancement of maintenance from Rs.150/- and Rs.25/- to the son which was allowed by the impugned order dated 12.8.2010.The learned Magistrate enhanced the maintenance amount to Rs.500/- and Rs.400/- to the wife and son respectively.
• Whereas, the Application for cancellation of the maintenance moved by the husband, pursuant to the provisions of Sub-section (4) of Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 came to be rejected. As such, the husband preferred a Criminal Revision Application No.204 of 2010.
• The aforesaid Revision came to be allowed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Sangli.
• The Magistrate, rejected the application for cancellation of maintenance amount.

PETITIONER CONTENTION:

• Learned counsel for the Petitioner-wife would urge that, even if the Petitioner is a divorcee, having regard to the provisions of Sub-section (4) of Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 she is entitled for maintenance as she continues, to be a woman, within the meaning of Sub-section (4) of Section 125 of the Act.
• He would draw support from the Judgments of the Apex Court in VANAMALA VS H.M.RANGANATHA BHATTA reported in 1995 DGLS (SC) 722 and ROHTAS SINGH VS RAMENDRI reported in 2000 DGLS (SC) 450 so as to support his aforesaid contentions. The sum and substance of the submission is even if there is a decree of divorce passed on the allegation of adultery, still bar under Sub-section (4) of Section 125 of the Act, will not be attracted, as even after divorce, she ceases to have the status of a wife but, she continues to be a woman.

RESPONDENT CONTENTION:

• The learned counsel for the Respondent submits that the divorce proceedings initiated by the Respondent-husband came to be allowed, as the allegation of adultery was proved against the Petitioner-wife.
• According to him, in view of the statutory embargo under Sub-section (4) of Section 125 of the Act, the Court below has rightly held that the Petitioner is not entitled for maintenance.

HELD:

• Learned counsel for the Petitioner has tried to rely on the judgments of the Apex Court in VANAMALA and ROHTAS SINGH supra so as to claim the status of the Petitioner-wife as that of a woman continues, in spite of the divorce.
• The fact remains that, there is an expressed embargo on the right of a woman to claim maintenance, pursuant to the provisions under Sub-section (4) of section 125 of the Act. If the allegation of adultery are proved against such a women or in spite of the husband being ready to maintain her and she refuses to cohabit the women/wife can be refused payment of maintenance.
• As far as factual matrix of the aforesaid case, namely VANAMALA and ROHTASH SINGH is concerned, both these cases are based on identifying and recognizing the right of a woman who was divorced not on the ground of proved adultery.
•  In the aforesaid background, both these Judgments will be hardly of any assistance to the Petitioner.
• Considering the expressed embargo on the right of the Petitioner, to claim maintenance  based on the allegation of adultery, the Court below has rightly held that the Petitioner-wife is not entitled for maintenance.
• Dismissed.