Punjab-Haryana High Court
Pooja Rani vs Neeraj Kumar on 28 July, 2022
Author: Arvind Singh Sangwan
Bench: Arvind Singh Sangwan
TA-172-2020 (O&M) -1-
IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND
HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
TA-172-2020 (O&M)
Date of decision: 28.07.2022
Pooja Rani ...Petitioner
Versus
Neeraj Kumar ...Respondent
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARVIND SINGH SANGWAN
Present:- Mr. Deshpreet Singh, Advocate
for the petitioner.
Mr. Mandeep Singh Chauhan, Advocate
for the respondent.
ARVIND SINGH SANGWAN, J. (Oral)
Prayer in this petition is for transfer of the petition filed by the respondent-husband under Sections 13(1)(i-a), (1-A) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, titled as Neeraj Kumar vs. Pooja Rani, pending before the Family Court, Abohar, District Fazilka to the competent Court of jurisdiction at Ambala.
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., a complaint under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 as well as a complaint under Sections 406, 498-A IPC at Ambala, which are pending. It is further submitted that as a counter-blast to the said cases, the respondent-husband has filed the aforesaid petition at Abohar in order to harass the petitioner and the petitioner is facing great difficulty in prosecuting the said case, as there is a distance of about 300 kms between the aforesaid two places.
Learned counsel has relied upon the judgments Sumita Singh 1 of 3 ::: Downloaded on - 30-07-2022 04:54:31 ::: TA-172-2020 (O&M) -2- 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."
Learned counsel for the respondent-husband has opposed the prayer of the petitioner-wife.
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 that if the aforesaid petition is not transferred, the petitioner-wife will have to bear the litigation expenses and transportation expenses and also in view of the ratio of law laid down by Hon'ble Supreme Court in Sumita Singh's case (supra) and Rajani Kishor Pardeshi's case (supra), this Court deems it appropriate to allow the present petition, with the following directions:-
(i) The petition filed under Section 13(1)(i-a), (1-A) of the Hindu Marriage Act, pending before the
2 of 3 ::: Downloaded on - 30-07-2022 04:54:31 ::: TA-172-2020 (O&M) -3- Family Court, Abohar will be transferred to the competent Court of jurisdiction at Ambala.
(ii) The District Judge, Ambala will assign the said petition to the competent Court of jurisdiction.
(iii) The Family Court at Abohar is directed to transfer all the record pertaining to the aforesaid case to District Judge, Ambala.
(iv) The parties are directed to appear before the trial Court at Ambala within a period of 01 month from today.
28.07.2022 (ARVIND SINGH SANGWAN)
Waseem Ansari JUDGE
Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No
Whether reportable Yes/No
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