Concealment of wife’s employment can result in dismissal of petition: High Court of Delhi

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Reserved on: 08.02.2021 Pronounced on: 22.02.2021 CRL.REV.P. 298 2020 SAMINA & ORS. Through: Mr.Abhay Mani Tripathi Advocate Petitioners SYED ASIM PASHA Through: Mr.Abinash Kumar Mishra Advocate Respondent CRL.REV.P. 17 2021 & Crl.M.A. 767 68 2021 SYED ASHIM PASHA Through: Mr.Abinash Kumar Mishra Advocate Petitioner STATE NCT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI & ORS. ... Respondents Through: Mr.Amit Chadha Additional Public Prosecutor for respondent No.1 State Mr.Abhay Mani Tripathi Advocate for respondents No.2 to 4 HON BLE MR. JUSTICE SURESH KUMAR KAIT JUDGMENT The order impugned in both the petitions is dated 20.02.2020 passed by the learned Principal Judge Family Court Karkardooma Courts Delhi vide which petitioner husband Syed Hashim Pasha has been directed to pay maintenance to petitioners wife & two daughters Samina & Ors.7 SCC 7 and decisions of this Court in Kusum Sharma Vs. Mahender Kumar Sharma 217DLT 709 and Radhika Vs. Vineet Rungta 110 DLT 111 and observed that parties in matrimonial disputes always try to mislead the court and furnish incomplete details and conceal the true facts specifically with regard to employment and Crl. Rev. P. 298 2020 & Crl.Rev. P.17 2021 income and that the courts have to resort to the status and life style of parties for fixing the maintenance. 10. The impugned order dated 20.02.2020 does find mention of affidavits of income and expenditure of both the sides but is silent about furnishing of copies of income tax returns salary receipt or even bank statement of the parties. In the absence of documentary evidence on record the only option left with the trial court is to determine maintenance keeping in mind the totality of circumstances. Neither of the party brought any document on record to establish their case. The husband has failed to bring on record any proof with regard to employment of the wife. Similarly wife has failed to prove that husband is earning a handsome amount however she seeks maintenance. Both the parties did not reach the court with clean hands and have not disclosed true facts with regard to their income and expenditure as observed by the court below. In the aforesaid view of the matter I find that the amount of maintenance fixed by the trial court is just and proper and does not call for 12. The above captioned petitions and pending applications are any interference. accordingly dismissed. Crl. Rev. P. 298 2020 & Crl.Rev. P.17 2021 13. The judgment be uploaded on the website of this Court forthwith. FEBRUARY 22 2021 SURESH KUMAR KAIT) JUDGE Crl. Rev. P. 298 2020 & Crl.Rev. P.17 2021 

Summary: In a suit of maintenance, if the parties fail to disclose documents that validate their claims, the lower court can rightly dismiss the petition. This was decided in the Joint Case of Samina &amp; Ors.Vs. Syed Asim Pasha And Syed Ashim Pasha State  of Delhi At New Delhi &amp; Ors  [CRL.REV.P. 17/2021 &amp; Crl.M.A. 767-68/2021] by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait in the High Court of Delhi. The brief facts of the case are that marriage between the parties was solemnized as per Muslim law. Husband is said to be a permanent resident of Hyderabad and an Engineer by profession. Wife is also said to be a highly educated woman but unemployed. Out of this wedlock, parties are blessed with two daughters. However, the marriage between the parties did not work and they started living separately. The husband has alleged that despite repeated requests, wife has refused to return to the matrimonial house, whereas the wife has alleged that her husband under a conspiracy brought her and the two daughters to Delhi to meet her parents and left them there and thereafter, put a condition that she should come back only if she brings Rs.5 Lacs from her parents. The court observed that the requirement is to determine is as to whether there is any illegality or perversity in the impugned order awarding maintenance to the wife and if it is exorbitant or on the lower side, as claimed by the parties. With respect to the quantum of maintenance, the wife has claimed that the husband is an Engineer and earning Rs.2 Lacs p.m. and he has no other liability except to maintain her and two daughters. She has claimed monthly expenditure of Rs.50,000/- for herself and Rs.20,000/- each for two daughters. 7. On the other hand, husband has claimed that the wife is a well-educated lady and an international player in shooting and is an international Coach and she imparts training and is earning Rs.25,000/- p/m. In addition, he has Crl. Rev. P. 298/2020 &amp; Crl.Rev. P.17/2021 Page 4 of 6 claimed monthly expenditure of Rs.28,000/- towards household, transport, medical and health club. The court observed that the order passed by lower court included maintenance of Rs.12,000 to wife. However, the affidavits filed are silent about furnishing of copies of income tax returns, salary receipt or even bank statement of the parties. Neither of the party brought any document on record to establish their case. The husband has failed to bring on record any proof with regard to employment of the wife. Similarly, wife has failed to prove that husband is earning a handsome amount, however, she seeks maintenance. Both the parties did not reach the court with clean hands and have not disclosed true facts with regard to their income and expenditure, as observed by the court below. IT said “In the absence of documentary evidence on record, the only option left with the trial court was to determine maintenance keeping in mind the totality of circumstances.”