Ranjit Singh Brar v. Mandeep Kaur Sandhu And Others

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH Civil Revision No. 5115 of 2023 (O&M) Date of Decision: 21.05.2026 Ranjit Singh Brar .......... Petitioner

Versus

Mandeep Kaur Sandhu and others .......... Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARKESH MANUJA

Present:

Mr. Chandeep Singh, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Vishavdeep Singh Rana, Advocate for contesting respondent No. 1.

**** HARKESH MANUJA, J. (ORAL) By way of present revision petition, challenge has been made to an order dated 05.07.2023 (Annexure P-5) passed by the learned Civil Judge (Junior Division), Ludiana (hereinafter referred to as "trial Court"), whereby respondent No. 1-plaintiff was permitted the facility of her examination-in-chief as well as cross-examination through videoconferencing. [2] Briefly stating, respondent No. 1 filed a suit for specific performance and mandatory injunction against her husband-defendant (petitioner herein) with the following prayer:- "

That in view of the afore-said facts and circumstances of the present case and in interest of justice, it is prayed that the following reliefs may be granted to the plaintiff:- a) decree for specific performance of the agreement dated 19/08/2019 whereby the defendant no. 1 acknowledged the plaintiff to be his wife and to return all her valuables to

CR No. 5115 of 2023 (O&M) [2] the plaintiff on demand. And b) Suit for mandatory injunction directing the Defendants to abide by the laws as prevalent in India and not in any manner interfere with the status of Plaintiff or describing her wrongly, malafidely and in absolute violation of true status of parties involved and/or c) Permanent Injunction for restraining the defendant No. 1 from moving out of India and using any coercive method/s to force the Plaintiff to bend according to his will, till the realization of the clauses of the agreement dated 19/08/2019. And d) For any other relief/s which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit."

[3] The issues in the aforementioned suit were framed on 12.05.2022. As a matter of fact, respondent No. 1-plaintiff (Mandeep Kaur Sandhu) happens to be a citizen of the United States of America (USA) and is holding an American passport. During her turn of evidence, she moved an application before the learned trial Court for permission to be examined as a witness through video-conferencing. Though, the said prayer was opposed at the instance of petitioner-defendant, however, the learned trial Court vide order dated 05.07.2023 allowed the aforesaid application. Hence, the present revision petition.

[4] I have heard learned counsel for the parties and gone through the case file.

[5] In the given facts and circumstances, when respondent No. 1plaitiff happens to be a citizen of United States of America (USA); holding its passport and intends to pursue her suit; in order to facilitate the same, in the humble opinion of this Court, the learned trial Court, based upon principles of natural justice, rightly granted permission to her to be

CR No. 5115 of 2023 (O&M) [3] examined as a witness through video-conferencing. In such circumstances, the plea raised by the petitioner for setting aside the impugned order dated 05.07.2023 is unreasonable and unsustainable. [6] Consequently, no ground for interference in the impugned order dated 05.07.2023 passed by the learned trial Court is made out; as such, the present, petition being devoid of merits, is hereby dismissed. [7] Pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed off.

May 21, 2026 ( HARKESH MANUJA ) 'dk kamra'

JUDGE Whether Speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether Reportable Yes/No