B. Sruthi Alias Mithra v. Ashwin Ramesh Babu

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 01.08.2025

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE K.K. RAMAKRISHNAN and C.M.P.(MD)No.4245 of 2025 B.Sruthi Alias Mithra .. Petitioner Vs.

Ashwin Ramesh Babu .. Respondent Prayer : Transfer Civil Miscellaneous Petition is filed under Section 24 of the Code of Civil Procedure, to withdraw the case in H.M.O.P.No.91 of 2025 on the file of the Family Court, Salem, and transfer the same to the Family Court, Dindigul.

For Petitioner : Mr.R.Saravanan For Respondent : Mr.T.Lenin Kumar

ORDER

The present Transfer Civil Miscellaneous Petition has been filed to withdraw the case in H.M.O.P.No.91 of 2025 on the file of the Family Court, Salem, and transfer the same to the Family Court, Dindigul.

2. The petitioner is the wife and the respondent is the husband. The marriage between the petitioner and the respondent was solemnized on 28.09.2022 before the Sub Registrar Office, Dindigul.

3. Due to some matrimonial discord, the parties have separated. Therefore, the respondent/husband filed H.M.O.P.No.91 of 2025, on the file of the Family Court, Salem, seeking divorce.

4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner/wife submits that his client is living in Athoor, Dindigul District and she was taken care of by her parents. The distance between the petitioner's residence to Salem, is around 200 Kms, and being a lady, she finds it difficult to travel such a long distance for attending every Court hearing. Hence, she seeks transfer

of proceedings in H.M.O.P.No.91 of 2025 from the file of the Family Court, Salem, to the file of the Family Court, Dindigul.

5. The learned counsel for the respondent entered appearance and he vehemently opposed to allow this petition.

6. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as the learned counsel for the respondent and perused the materials available on records.

7. In the case of N.C.V.Aishwarya Vs. A.S.Saravana Karthik Sha reported in 2022 Live Law (SC) 627, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has dealt with the position generally, that it is the wife's convenience, which must be looked into while considering the transfer petition under Section 24 of the Code of Civil Procedure and the relevant passage is extracted hereunder : "The cardinal principle for exercise of power under Section 24 of the Code of Civil Procedure is that the ends of justice should demand the transfer of the suit, appeal or other proceeding. In matrimonial matters, wherever Courts are called

upon to consider the plea of transfer, the Courts have to take into consideration the economic soundness of both the parties, the social strata of the spouses and their behavioural pattern, their standard of life prior to the marriage and subsequent thereto and the circumstances of both the parties in eking out their livelihood and under whose protective umbrella they are seeking their sustenance to life. Given the prevailing socioeconomic paradigm in the Indian society, generally, it is the wife's convenience which must be looked at while considering transfer.", the bench observed."

8. It is also well settled proposition of law that whenever a transfer petition is filed in matrimonial disputes, the convenience of the wife should be predominantly looked into, and the wife's convenience shall be given preference.

9. Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case and also taking into account of the inconvenience expressed by the petitioner in attending every court hearing, by travelling four hours journey to reach the Family Court, Salem, situated 200 kms away from her Domicile, namely, Athoor, Dindigul District, incurring huge expense, this court inclines to

allow the petition.

10. The learned District Judge, Family Court, Salem, is hereby directed to transfer the entire records pertaining to the case, in H.M.O.P.No. 91 of 2025, to the file of the learned District Judge, Family Court, Dindigul, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, and on receipt of such records, the learned learned District Judge, Family Court, Dindigul, is directed to take the case on file, try the same and dispose of the cases as expeditiously as possible in accordance with law.

11. Accordingly, this Transfer Civil Miscellaneous Petition stands allowed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected Civil Miscellaneous Petition is closed.

01.08.2025 Index :Yes/No Speaking Order :Yes/No :Yes/No TM

To 1.The District Judge, Family Court, Salem.

2.The District Judge, Family Court, Dindigul.

K.K. RAMAKRISHNAN , J.

TM and C.M.P.(MD)No.4245 of 2025 01.08.2025