Lakshmi @ Preeti v. Sidharth Bhardwaj

-1IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision: 28.01.2016 Lakshmi @ Preeti ....Applicant

Versus

Sidharth Bhardwaj ....Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PARAMJEET SINGH DHALIWAL 1) Whether Reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment ?

2) To be referred to the Reporters or not ?

3) Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest ? Present: - Mr. Balram Singh, Advocate, for the applicant. Mr. Rakesh Gupta, Advocate, for the respondent. PARAMJEET SINGH DHALIWAL, J. (ORAL) Instant application under Section 24 of the Code of Civil Procedure has been filed seeking transfer of petition under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (for short 'the Act') filed by respondenthusband from the Court at Ambala to the Court of competent jurisdiction at Kapurthala.

I have heard learned counsel for the applicant. Learned counsel for the applicant contends that the applicant has no source of income and it is difficult for her to attend the court at Ambala. Learned counsel further contends that applicant is staying with her parents and two minor children in District Kapurthala. Identical contentions were raised before the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Anindita Das vs. Srijit Das, (2006) 9 Supreme

-2Court Cases,197. In the case of Anindita Das (supra), Hon'ble Supreme Court has held as under:- "3. Even otherwise, it must be seen that at one stage this Court was showing leniency to ladies. But since then it has been found that a large number of transfer petitions are filed by women taking advantage of the leniency shown by this Court. On an average at least 10 to 15 transfer petitions are on board of each court on each admission day. It is, therefore, clear that leniency of this Court is being misused by the women.

5. Except for stating that her health is not good, no particulars are given. On the ground that she is not able to come to Delhi to attend the court on a particular date, she can always apply for exemption and her application will undoubtedly be considered on its merit. Hence, no ground for transfer has been made out.

6. Accordingly, we dismiss the Transfer Petition. We, however, direct that the respondent shall pay all travel and stay expenses of the petitioner and her companion for each and every occasion when she is required to attend the Court at Delhi.

7. The respondent shall send in advance to the petitioner money for a 2nd Class A.C. train ticket for herself and a companion. The respondent shall also pay stay expenses of the petitioner and her companion in a 3-Star Hotel. The trial court shall ensure that the petitioner has been paid the travel expenses in advance and that the hotel expenses are paid to her on each and every occasion when she is required to attend the Court at Delhi."

-3In view of above, no ground for transferring the case has been made out.

Dismissed. However, applicant will be at liberty to move an application before the concerned Court in the light of judgment referred to above.

(Paramjeet Singh Dhaliwal) Judge January 28, 2016 R.S.