Kasinath Mohapatra vs Annapurna Panda @ Mohapatra on 14 February, 1989
In 1985 (II) OLR 433, Bharat @ Kathis Mallik v. Kissi Mallik, 1986 (1) OLR 558, Smt Sulochana Sahu v. Baman Ch Sahu, and 65 (1988) CLT 146 Biswanath Kabi v. Susama Dei, after review of a large number of decisions, this Court interpeted the proviso to Section 126(2) and held that if the person against whom an order for payment of maintenance is proposed to be made is wilfully avoiding service or wilfully neglecting to attend the Court, the Magistrate may proceed to hear and determine the case ex parte. Before proceeding to hear and determine the case ex parte, a specific oder has to be recorded by the Magistrate to the effect that the person against whom an order for payment of maintenance is proposed to be made if wilfully avoiding service or wilfully neglecting to attend the Court. In the present case, the order passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate on 19-11-1984 has been quoted and it will appear therefrom that he did not specifically record that the petitioner was wilfully avoiding service of notice or wilfully neglected to attend the Court and so it was necessary to proceed against him ex parte. The contention of Mr. Dhal to the effect that the requirements of the proviso to Section 126(2) were not followed must have to be sustained. That being so, the ex parte order and preceding to hear the case in the absence of and without notice to the petitioner were illegal and completely without jurisdiction.