Sonia v. Vikrant Rana

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision: 30.3.2016 Sonia .. Applicant Vs.

Vikrant Rana ... Respondent

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE RAMESHWAR SINGH MALIK

Present:

Mr. G.S. Jagpal, Advocate for the applicant.

Mr. S.K. Biriwal, Advocate for the respondent.

**** RAMESHWAR SINGH MALIK, J. (Oral) Applicant-wife, by way of instant transfer application under Section 24 read with Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, seeks transfer of divorce petition filed by the respondent-husband under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, ('HM Act' for short), from Chandigarh to Ludhiana. Notice of motion was issued vide order dated 16.10.2014. However, no reply has been filed so far.

Heard learned counsel for the parties.

It has gone undisputed between the parties that there is a

child out of the wedlock. Applicant-wife, alongwith her minor child, is staying with her parents at Ludhiana. She is living under the protective umbrella of her parents. The respondent-husband is not paying any amount of maintenance either for the applicant-wife or for the minor child. Distance between Ludhiana to Chandigarh is about 100 kilometers.

In view of the abovesaid fact situation obtaining in the present case, this Court is of the considered opinion that applicantwife has made out a case for transfer of divorce petition from Chanidgarh to Ludhiana. It is so said because financial status of the wife, her responsibility for bringing up the children and distance between two places, besides her convenience, are some of the relevant considerations for deciding the transfer application like the present one.

The abovesaid view taken by this Court also finds support from the earlier order dated 16.03.2016 passed by this Court in TA No.945 of 2015 (Sushma and others Vs. Kapil @ Sahil Bansal), which, in turn, was based on the judgments of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, as well as different High Courts, including this Court. No other argument was raised.

Considering the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case noted above, coupled with the reasons aforementioned, this Court is of the considered view that instant application deserves to be accepted and the same is hereby allowed. Accordingly, the learned District Judge, Chandigarh, is directed to send complete record of the petition under Section 13 of the HM Act titled as Vikrant Rana Vs.

Sonia, filed by the respondent-husband, to the learned District Judge, Ludhiana, at an early date but in any case within a period of one month from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. The learned District Judge, Ludhiana, is also directed either to decide the case himself or assign it to the court of competent jurisdiction, for an early decision, in accordance with law.

With the abovesaid observations made and directions issued, present transfer application stands disposed of, however, with no order as to costs.

(RAMESHWAR SINGH MALIK ) JUDGE 30.3.2016 AK Sharma