Leave granted.
Heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of the parties.
The Magistrate dismissed the petition under Section 125 of the Code of
Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short, `Cr.P.C.') on the sole ground that the wife was a
working lady and had income from properties, as such, she may be able to maintain
herself out of the said income. The said order has been confirmed by the High Court.
Hence, this appeal by special leave.
According to the case of the appellant, her husband, who is Respondent
No.1 herein, is a graduate in Engineering and his income is Rupees twenty thousand.
In the counter affidavit filed before this Court, the fact that the income of the
husband is Rupees twenty thousand per month has not been denied. However, it has
been asserted that wife's returned income is Rs.98,820/- per annum, which shows
that
she was earning even less than Rupees nine thousand per month. Both the wife and
husband are residing at Agra. In our view, it is not possible for the wife to maintain
herself in the town of Agra with the income of less than Rupees nine thousand per
month. The husband, who is earning at least Rupees Twenty thousand per month, as
stated by the appellant in this appeal and not controverted, is liable to pay some
amount of maintenance to the wife so that she may be able to maintain herself. In the
facts and circumstances of the case, we are of the view that it would be just and
expedient to direct the husband to pay Rupees five thousand per month to the wife by
way of maintenance from the date of filing of the petition under Section 125 Cr.P.C.
Accordingly, the appeal is allowed, the impugned orders are set aside,
petition under Section 125 Cr.P.C. is allowed and Respondent No.1 is directed to pay
maintenance at the rate of Rupees five thousand per month from 1st November, 1998
till 31st July, 2008 in the following manner:
By 31st August, 2008, Rupees fifty thousand;
By 30th September, 2008, Rupees fifty thousand;
By 31st October, 2008, Rupees fifty thousand;
By 31st November, 2008, Rupees One lakh fifty thousand;
By 31st December, 2008, Rupees One lakh fifty thousand;
By 31st January, 2009, the balance amount.
All the instalments shall be paid by way of Account Payee Demand Draft
drawn upon a Bank at Agra, in favour of the appellant–Minakshi Gaur. The bank
draft shall be made over to the wife by the husband personally or through his
representative within the aforesaid time. The current amount of maintenance
beginning from the month of August, 2008, at the same rate shall be paid to the wife
by 15th day of the following month, i.e., maintenance for the month of August, 2008,
shall be paid by 15th September and in the like manner for subsequent months.
[G.S. SINGHVI] New Delhi, July 14, 2008.
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1080 OF 2008
(Arising out of S.L.P. (Crl.) No.2124 of 2005)
Minakshi Gaur ...Appellant(s)
Versus
Chitranjan Gaur and Anr. ...Respondent(s)
In the order dated 14th July, 2008, the words “S.L.P. (Crl.) No.2124 of
2008” be read as “S.L.P. (Crl.) No.2124 of 2005”.
Ordered accordingly.
[G.S. SINGHVI] New Delhi, July 29, 2008.