SCA/6834/2008 1/9 JUDGMENT IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION No. 6834 of 2008 For Approval and Signature: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH ========================================================= 1 Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2 To be referred to the Reporter or not ? 3 Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the judgment ? 4 Whether this case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the constitution of India, 1950 or any order made thereunder ? 5 Whether it is to be circulated to the civil judge? ========================================================= MINAL DHAVAL PANCHAL - Petitioner(s) Versus DHAVAL KANTILAL PANCHAL - Respondent(s) ========================================================= Appearance : MS NITA PANDIT FOR MR AR GUPTA for Petitioner(s) : 1, MR PRABHAV A MEHTA for Respondent(s) : 1, ========================================================= CORAM : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH Date : 27/08/2008 ORAL JUDGMENT 1. Rule. Mr.Prbhav Mehta, learned Advocate waives service of rule on behalf of the respondent. With the consent of the learned Advocates appearing SCA/6834/2008 2/9 JUDGMENT on behalf of the respective parties, the petition is taken up for final hearing today. 2. By way of this petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner – original applicant wife has prayed for an appropriate Writ, order or direction quashing and setting aside the impugned order dated 28.03.2008 passed by the learned Principal Judge, Family Court No.1, Ahmedabad in H.M.P.No.196 of 2007 in so far as awarding Rs.6000/- per month only towards interim alimony under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act to the applicant and her minor child. 3. The applicant – wife had initiated proceedings under the Hindu Marriage Act before the Family Court, Ahmedabad being H.M.P.Suit No.445 of 2003 for restitution of conjugal rights and the petitioner also filed H.M.P.No.196 of 2007 in the Family Court, Ahmedabad on 19.02.2007 under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act claiming maintenance / alimony at the rate of Rs.23,600/- towards pendente lite to the applicant and the child and further Rs.20,000/- towards expenses for the proceedings. SCA/6834/2008 3/9 JUDGMENT Application below Exh.5 was submitted for interim alimony. It was contended on behalf of the applicant wife that respondent – husband is serving in Adani Retail Ltd. as Sales and Marketing Manager and his income is Rs.45,000/- per month. It was submitted that initially the applicant wife was serving in St.Kabir School and earning Rs.2850/- per month and subsequently she resigned. It was submitted that her minor son is studying in St.Kabir School and for his education it was prayed for an appropriate order of award of Rs.23,600/- per month as interim alimony. 4. The application was opposed by the respondent – husband. It was submitted that his basic salary is Rs.20,000/- and he has liability to maintain his parents. It was submitted by the respondent – husband that the applicant wife can get exemption in payment of fees in the school. That though affidavit was filed by the respondent – husband stating that his basic salary is Rs.20,000/-, but he did not produce any salary slip. That the learned Principal Judge, Family Court, Ahmedabad by impugned order dated 28.03.2008 partly allowed the said application by awarding interim alimony at the SCA/6834/2008 4/9 JUDGMENT rate of Rs.3000/- to the applicant – wife and Rs.3000/- per month for maintenance of her child and further directed to pay Rs.5000/- by way of costs of the litigation. Learned Family Court, Ahmedabad passed order to pay maintenance to the applicant at the rate of Rs.3000/- to the applicant with effect from 01.03.2008 and minor child with effect from 19.02.2007. Being aggrieved and dissatisfied with the order passed by the learned Family Court, Ahmedabad in awarding interim alimony at the rate of Rs.6000/- per month only to the wife and child, the applicant has preferred present Special Civil Application under Article 227 of the Constitution of India. 5. Mr. Nita Pandit, learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant – wife has vehemently submitted that when income of the respondent – husband is Rs.46,000/- per month, impugned order passed by the learned Family Court awarding interim alimony at the rate of Rs.6000/- per month to the applicant and child requires to be quashed and set aside by awarding atleast 1/3rd to the applicant and child. It is submitted that learned Family Court has materially erred in assuming and/or considering SCA/6834/2008 5/9 JUDGMENT income of the husband at Rs.25,000/- per month only. It is submitted that deliberately the husband has not produced salary slip and has deliberately stated that his basic salary is Rs.20,500/-, but has not stated that his total income would be Rs.46,000/- per month. It is submitted that normal rule to award interim alimony would be 1/3rd income of the husband and if the same is adopted, in that case, the applicant would be entitled to Rs.15,000/- per month. Therefore, it is requested to allow the present Special Civil Application by modifying the order passed by the learned Family Court to the aforesaid extent. 6. Mr.Prabhav Mehta, learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the respondent – husband has submitted that on appreciation of evidence the learned Family Court has considered income of the respondent at Rs.25,000/- per month, same is not required to be interfered with by this Court in exercise of powers under Article 227 of the Constitution of India. It is submitted that even respondent – husband has to bear the expenditure of maintaining his parents and therefore, it is requested to dismiss the present SCA/6834/2008 6/9 JUDGMENT Special Civil Application. 7. Heard the learned Advocates appearing on behalf of the respective parties. 8. The applicant – wife was serving in School, however, subsequently she resigned with effect from 01.03.2008. Application for interim alimony under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act has been submitted by the applicant – wife for herself and for minor child claiming Rs.23,600/- as interim alimony for their maintenance contending inter-alia that income of respondent husband is Rs.46,000/- per month and he is serving as Sales and Marketing Manager in Adani Retail Ltd. Against which it was the contention on behalf of the respondent – husband that his basic salary is Rs.20,500/- only. It is required to be noted that in spite of specific case on affidavit by the applicant that the respondent – husband is serving as Sales and Marketing Manager and is getting Rs.46,000/- per month, respondent – husband has not produced any salary slip. It appears from the reply submitted by the respondent before the Family Court that at the relevant time respondent took home salary SCA/6834/2008 7/9 JUDGMENT of Rs.33,904/- which was inclusive of all liabilities like taxes and savings. 9. As stated above, respondent – husband has not produced salary slip and merely contended that he is getting Rs.20,500/- as basic. When Rs.20,500/- is his basic salary, with all emoluments and other facilities he would be getting much more and therefore, his total income will have to be considered and not basic salary only. What exact amount respondent husband was getting he ought to have produced salary slip. But unfortunately he has not produced any salary slip and/or supporting documents to prove that his salary is not Rs.46,000/- per month as alleged by the petitioner wife on affidavit. It appears from the impugned order that the learned Family Court has assessed income of the respondent at Rs.25,000/- per month. However the said figure seems to be on surmises and conjectures only by observing that there is tendency to submit higher income. There is no basis by the learned Family Court to arrive income at Rs.25,000/- per month. On the other hand as stated above, it is the specific case on behalf of the petitioner on affidavit that income SCA/6834/2008 8/9 JUDGMENT of the respondent husband is Rs.46,000/- per month, against which no evidence has been adduced by the respondent husband and adverse inference can be drawn at this stage. Thus income of the respondent husband is to be considered at Rs.46,000/- per month. As held by this Court in catena of decisions normal principle for awarding interim alimony should be atleast 1/3rd of the amount of the income of the respondent husband and for which there cannot be any dispute by the learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the respondent. 10. Thus, considering above, the applicant would be entitled to atleast Rs.15,000/- per month towards interim alimony during the pendency of the application under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act. These are the hard days and looking to price rise and rate of inflation and that the applicant has to maintain her minor child and also bear the expenditure after his education, it will be appropriate to award Rs.15,000/- as interim alimony during the pendency of the application under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act. SCA/6834/2008 9/9 JUDGMENT 11. For the reasons stated above, the petition succeeds in part. Impugned order dated 28.03.2008 passed by the learned Principal Judge, Family Court, Ahmedabad below Exh.5 in H.M.P.No.196 of 2007 is modified to the extent that the applicant wife and her minor child would be entitled to Rs.15,000/- per month by way of interim alimony, out of which Rs.10,000/- to be paid to the applicant – wife with effect from 01.03.2008 and Rs.5000/- towards maintenance of minor child with effect from 19.02.2007. Respondent – husband is directed to pay arrears within a period of 2(two) months from today and to continue to pay regular interim alimony at the aforesaid rate. Rest of the order with respect to payment of costs at Rs.5000/- is concerned, it is confirmed. Respondent is also directed to pay the cost of present proceedings to the petitioner which is quantified at Rs.7500/- (Rupees Seven Thousand Five Hundred only) which shall also be paid within two months. Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. [M.R.Shah,J.] satish