Karnataka High Court: Alok Aradhe, J. admitted the petitions under Article 227 of the Constitution of India for quashment of the order of the Judge of the Principal Family Court, Bengaluru.
In the instant case, parties got married on 29.05.1998 as per Hindu rites. The petitioner – husband sought for dissolution of marriage under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 whereas respondent-wife for restitution of conjugal rights under Section 9.
These petitions are pending before the Principal Judge, Family Court.
In respect of the proceeding under Section 13 of the Act, the Family Court granted maintenance of Rs 8,000 per month and Rs 20,000 for litigation expenses by an order on 16.10.2017. Without taking note of the order already passed, the same Court passed an order on 05.12.2017 under Section 9 of the Act and again awarded a sum of Rs 8,000 towards maintenance and Rs 10,000 towards one-time litigation expenses.
The Court after hearing H. Ramachandra, Counsel for the petitioner and Adithya Kumar H.R. for the respondent observed that the Family Court did not take note of its earlier order before passing the order on 05.12.2017. Therefore, the order passed on 05.12.2017 cannot be sustained in the eyes of law.
The Court further directed the Family Court to decide the respondent’s application afresh.
Moreover, the Court observed that the provisions in Karnataka (Case Flow Management in Subordinate Court) Rules, 2005 provide that matrimonial disputes should be decided within one year. The proceeding under Section 13 of the Act was initiated in the year 2014. Therefore, the Court directed the Family Court to expeditiously conclude the proceedings within four months of the order of this Court. [Chandrashekar v. Shylaja, 2019 SCC OnLine Kar 1828, decided on 12-09-2019]
