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Showing contexts for: adjustable maintenance in Sailendra Nath Ghosh vs State Of West Bengal And Anr. on 14 August, 1997Matching Fragments
3. Mr. A. Goswami, the learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner contended that the learned Magistrate ought to have made provision in the impugned order for adjustment of Rs. 700 /-, the amount which the opposite party No. 2 is getting by way of maintenance pendente lite in terms of order dated 8.7.96 passed in the matrimonial suit against the amount of Rs. 800/- which he awarded in her favour towards her maintenance allowance. If this adjustment is not allowed, the petitioner will be unjustly saddled with a liability to make payment of maintenance allowance to the opposite party No. 2 twice a month. Accordingly, Mr. Goswami wants this Court to modify the impugned order by making provision for adjustment of the maintenance pendente lite.
10. In our case, the husband petitioner has not at all challenged the jurisdiction of the Magistrate in awarding a higher maintenance of Rs. 800/- as against the lower amount of Rs. 700/- awarded pendente lite under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act. In Ramesh Chancier's case (supra), no question of any adjustment of maintenance pendente Ute under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act against the maintenance awarded under Section 125 of Cr.P.C. was specially raised or fell for consideration by the Apex Court nor did the Apex Court hold in that decision that the order under Section 24 was not relevant for claiming adjustment against the maintenance to be awarded under Section 125. In my view, the decision in Ramesh Chander's case (supra) is not an authority for the proposition that the plea of adjustment is not at all entertainable by the Magistrate while he awards maintenance under Section 125, Cr.P.C. That being so, the two decisions cited by Mr. Goswami cannot be categorised as per inquirium merely because of the fact that the Supreme Court decision in case of Ramesh Chander (supra) was not considered therein.
16. In the later decision of the Allahabad High Court in Khem Chand v. State and Anr. (supra), the High Court was hearing a revision by the husband directed against an order granting maintenance allowance to the wife under Section 125, Cr.P.C. and it was contended on behalf of the husband that he has already filed a petition for divorce and in that divorce proceeding, he has been directed to pay maintenance to the wife. The High Court directed adjustment of the amount paid towards maintenance in the matrimonial proceeding against the maintenance payable under Section 125, Cr.P.C. The Court held that double payment of maintenance is not intended by law and that if any money has been deposited towards the payment of maintenance in the divorce proceeding the same was liable to be adjusted in the payment of maintenance ordered under Section 125, Cr.P.C.
20. Thus, having regard to the facts and circumstances of this case, I am inclined to hold that the amount paid by the petitioner-husband to the opposite party-wife towards her maintenance in pursuance of the order passed by the Matrimonial Court under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act is liable to be adjusted against the amount payable under Section 125 of Cr.P.C. towards her maintenance.
21. In such view of the matter, the impugned order is liable to be made subject to the modification to the effect that the amount paid as alimony pendente lite in the matrimonial suit by the petitioner-husband to the opposite party No. 2 be adjusted against the maintenance payable under the impugned order. In the result, the revisional application succeeds and is hereby allowed subject to the modification of the impugned order as directed above.