Not paying maintenance to wife causes “Economic Abuse”: Tripura High Court

HIGH COURT OF TRIPURA Crl.Rev.P.No.320 Ramendra Kishore Bhattacharjee Son of Late Santi Gopal Bhattacharjee Resident of Badharghat Sreepalli P.S. Amtali District West Tripura Smt.Madhurima Bhattacharjee Wife of Ramendra Kishore Bhattacharjee C O Sri Tapan Bhattacharjee of Ramnagar Road No.4 P.S: West Agartala District: West Tripura and Anr. For the Appellant(s) For the Respondent(s) Date of hearing Date of delivery of Judgment & order Whether fit for reporting : Yes No  ..............Appellant(s) ...........Respondent(s) Mr.B.Deb Adv. Mr.S.Debnath Addl. PP Mr.Raju Datta HON’BLE MR.JSUTICE S.G.CHATTOPADHYAY B E F O R E JUDGMENT This criminal revision petition has been filed under Section 397 read with Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973(Cr.P.C. hereunder) against the judgment and order dated 18.07.2020 delivered in Criminal Appeal No. 16 of 2018 by the Additional Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 Sessions Judge West Tripura Agartala partly allowing the appeal against the judgment and order dated 23.08.2018 passed by the Judicial Magistrate First classAgartala in case No. CR 54 of 2016 under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005at Agartala on 22.01.2016 seeking various reliefs under the DV Act wherein she referred to several incidents of domestic violence against her husband. It was stated by her that after solemnization of their marriage a son was born to them on 28.05.2001. Their relationship was normal for a period of 01 year only. Thereafter her husband subjected her to harassment and torture for dowry and since she was unable to meet his demand she was physically assaulted by her husband on various dates. Gradually he developed an extramarital affair. When the wife raised protest against his conduct he assaulted her. As a result of continuous assault on 16.12.2015 and 17.12.2015 she became ill and received treatment Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 in IGM Hospital at Agartala. Unable to bear his torture the wife parted with his company on 17.12.2015. In this factual background she claimed the following reliefs in the trial court under the DV Act: A protection order under Section 18 of the DV Act restraining her husband from committing acts of domestic violence to her. Residence order under Section 19 of the DV Act restraining the husband from dispossessing her shared household. Monetary relief under Section 20 of the DV Act @Rs.15 000 per month along with one time medical expenses of Rs.1 lakh. Compensation order under Section 22 of the DV Act against the husband for damages of an amount of Rs.3 lakhs including mental torture and emotional distress caused to her by her husband by his acts of domestic violence. Her application was registered in the trial court as case no. CR 516 and notice was issued to the husband. The husband filed written objection against the complaint of his wife. In his written objection he stated that his wife filed a false and frivolous complaint against him. According to him she was very arrogant Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 and torturous right from the beginning of their marriage. But he condoned her conduct and wanted to continue the relationship. He noticed no change in her behavior even after the birth of their son. After he was transferred to the court of District and Sessions Judge at Kailashahar he had taken his wife and child to there from where the wife used to visit her parents at Agartala frequently without taking any care of his convenience. Having noticed growth of abnormalities in her conduct day by day the husband with the consent of her parents had taken her to various psychiatrists. He had also taken her to Bangalore for treatment in the National Institute of Mental Health And Neuro Science NIMHANS) in 2012 which brought no change in her. The husband then approached the State Commission for Women for reconciliation. He also approached the State Legal Services Authority for a settlement. His efforts yielded no result. Ultimately his wife filed an FIR against him and his old parents on 18.12.2015. Since then the husband has been living separately along with his son who is studying in school. Having denied the allegations of his wife he claimed that his wife was solely responsible for their matrimonial discord Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 and as such she was not entitled to any relief under the DV Act. During the trial of the case the wife examined herself as PW 1 her elder brother Tapan Bhattacharjee as PW 2 and her neighbor Ranajoyti Bhattacharjee as PW 3. The husband on the other hand examined himself as DW 1 his neighbor Priya Bhusan Deb as DW 2 and Smt. Rekha Roy as DW 3. The learned trial court on appreciation of evidence granted reliefs to the wife vide paragraph 12 of his judgment dated 23.08.2018 which is as under: “ORDER 12) In the result the application filed by the aggrieved petitioner U.S. 12 of the Act is partly allowed and the aggrieved petitioner is found entitled to protection order residence order and monetary relief. The respondents are prohibited from committing any act of domestic violence or aiding or abetting in the commission of acts of domestic violence upon the aggrieved petitioner. The Respondent No.1 is further directed as part of residence order to make payment of Rs.2000 per month as rent for accommodation to the aggrieved petitioner. He is further directed to make payment of Rs.15 000 per month as monetary relief in the form of maintenance to the aggrieved petitioner. The payment of Rs.2000 per month as residence order and Rs.15 000 per month as maintenance is to be deposited within the 10th day of every month in the Bank account of the aggrieved petitioner. Supply a copy of this judgment and order free of cost to both the parties and to the C.D.P.S’s of their respective jurisdiction of address for doing the needful. This Judgment is Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 passed on this 23rd day of August 2018 under the seal and signature of this Court. Thus the case is disposed off on contest. Make entry in the concerned T.R. The record shall be consigned to Record Room after due compliance of all legal formalities.” The husband and his mother brother and sister being appellants challenged the said judgment of the learned trial court in criminal appeal no.118 before the learned Additional Sessions Judge at Agartala in West Tripura and the leaned Additional Sessions Judge by the impugned judgment partly allowed the appeal vide paragraph 8 of the impugned judgment and directed as under: “8. In view of the discussion made above the present criminal appeal partly succeeds and the judgment and order dated 23.8.2018 passed by the Ld. Trial Court in C.R. 54 of 2016 is partly upheld and interfered with as stated herein below : a) The husband appellant No.1 is solely proved to have committed and liable for the acts of Domestic Violence upon his aggrieved wife and all other appellant Nos.2 3 and 4 are hereby discharged from the liabilities. b) The protection order passed by the Ld. Trial Court under Section 18 of the PWDV Act is upheld with a direction that the husband appellant No.1 strictly adhered the same. c) The order of monetary relief passed in the form of maintenance under Section 20(1)(d) of the PWDV Act for an amount of Rs.15 000 per month is hereby upheld and d) The order of relief passed under Section 19(f) of the PWDV Act is hereby set aside.” Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 Aggrieved with the impugned judgment of the learned Additional Sessions Judge the husband has challenged the said judgment in this criminal revision 10] Heard Mr. B.Deb learned counsel appearing for the husband as well as Mr. Raju Datta learned counsel appearing for the wife. 11] The grounds of challenge to the impugned judgment of the appellate court are as under: i) The learned courts below have not property appreciated the evidence and materials on record and as such their judgments are erroneous and liable to be set ii) The learned courts below have failed to appreciate the fact that the wife has left the the custody of her husband. Thereafter the husband alone has been shouldering all expenses of the son including his educational expenses. The learned courts below without taking into consideration the expenses borne by the husband directed him to provide monetary relief to the wife ₹15 000 per month. Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 iii) While providing the monetary relief to the wife under Section 18 of the DV Act the courts below did not also consideration personal expenses of husband and expenses borne by him for maintaining his old and ailing mother. Moreover the learned courts below did not also consider his permanent disability and the recurring medical expenses for his treatment. While determining the amount of monetary relief the courts below did not also take into consideration the order of the Family Court Agartala passed in Misc. Case No.463 of 2017 whereby the husband was directed to pay ₹ 6000 to his wife in a proceeding under Section 125 Cr.P.C. iv) The trial court as well as the appellate court issued the protection order against the husband without any proof of commission of domestic violence. According to the husband evidence adduced by him was not appreciated by the trial court as well as the appellate court while issuing such protection 12] Besides projecting the grounds stated above Mr.B.Deb learned counsel appearing for the husband has also contended that where there is no Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 evidence of domestic violence the wife is not entitled to any relief under the DV Act. In this regard Mr.Deb learned counsel has relied on order dated 28.01.2019 of the Apex Court passed in Sangita Saha vs. Abhijit Saha And Others. In Petition(s) for Special Leave Appeal(Crl.) No(s). 2600 2601 2016] wherein the Apex Court has held that petitioner is entitled to relief under the DV Act only in case she establishes domestic violence. Mr. Deb learned counsel has also contended that in absence of the proof of the ingredients of domestic violence the wife is not entitled relief relieves provided under the DV Act. In support of his contention Mr. Deb learned counsel has placed reliance on the order dated 04.10.2019 of the Apex Court in Kamlesh Devi vs. Joypal And Others.[Special Leave Petition Diary No.(s) 34053 2019] wherein the Apex Court has held that relief under DV Act can be declined where ingredients of domestic violence are wholly absent. submission on behalf of the husband is that the learned trial court as well as the appellate court should not have ignored the maintenance awarded to the wife in a Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 proceeding under Section 125 Cr.P.C while determining the amount of monetary relief to the wife under Section 20 of the DV Act. In support of his contention Mr.Deb learned counsel has referred to the decision of the Apex Court in Rajnesh vs. Neha and Another reported in 2020 SCC Online SC 903 wherein the Apex Court has directed as under: jurisdictions It is well settled that a wife can make a claim for maintenance under different statutes. For instance there is no bar to seek maintenance both under the D.V. Act and Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. or under H.M.A. It would however be inequitable to direct the husband to pay proceedings independent of the relief in a previous proceeding. If maintenance is awarded to the wife in a previously instituted proceeding she is under a legal obligation to disclose the same in a subsequent proceeding for maintenance which may be filed under another enactment. While deciding the of maintenance proceeding court family court shall take into account the maintenance instituted proceeding and determine the maintenance payable to the issue of To overcome the jurisdiction conflicting orders being passed different proceedings we direct that in a subsequent maintenance proceeding the the previous applicant shall disclose maintenance proceeding and the orders passed therein so that the Court would Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 take into consideration the maintenance proceeding and grant an adjustment or set off of the said amount. If the order the previous proceeding requires any modification or variation the party would be required to move the 13] Mr.Deb learned counsel appearing for the husband has finally argued that since there is no proof of domestic violence the impugned judgment is liable to be set aside. 14] Mr.Raju Datta learned counsel appearing for the wife on the other hand contends that admittedly the husband is a government employee having a monthly salary of not less than ₹50 000 who is quite able to maintain his wife. Further contention of Mr.Datta learned counsel is that the wife by producing cogent and coherent evidence proved that she was subjected to domestic violence by her husband and the courts below on appreciation of her evidence and the entire facts and circumstances of the case granted the reliefs to her under the DV Act. It is therefore submitted by Mr.Datta that there is no reason to interfere with the findings of the courts below. According to Mr.Datta Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 learned counsel the wife is entitled to the same standard of living as she would have lived in the house of her husband and therefore the trial court rightly granted ₹15 000 per month as monetary relief to her which was also upheld by the appellate court. In support of his contention Mr.Datta has referred to the decision of the Apex Court in Reema Salkan vs. Sumer Singh Salkan reported in 12 SCC 303 wherein the Apex Court succinctly held that while determining the maintenance allowance for the wife regards must be had to the living standard of his husband and his 15] With regard to the determinants of the maintenance allowance Mr.Datta learned counsel appearing for the wife has also placed reliance on the decision of Delhi High Court in Babita Bisht vs. Dharmender Singh Bisht reported in SCC Online Del 8775 wherein Delhi High Court has held as “16. The Supreme Court in Reema vs. Sumer Singh Salkan in in judgment dated judgment of the Supreme Court in Bhuwan Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 take subterfuges Mohan Singh vs. Meena:6 SCC 353 held that "the concept of sustenance does not necessarily mean to lead the life of an animal feel like an unperson to be thrown away from grace and roam for her basic maintenance somewhere else. She entitled in law to lead a life in the similar manner as she would have lived in the house of her husband. That is where the status and strata come into play and that is where the obligations of the husband in case of a wife become a prominent one. In a proceeding of this nature the husband cannot deprive her of the benefit of living with dignity. Regard being had to the solemn pledge at the time of marriage and also in consonance with the statutory law that governs the field it is the obligation of the husband to see that the wife does not become a destitute a beggar. A situation is not to be maladroitly created where under she is compelled to resign to her fate and think of life "dust unto dust". It is totally impermissible. In fact it is the sacrosanct duty to render the financial support even if the husband is required to earn money with physical labour if he is able bodied. There is no escape route unless there is an order from the court that the wife is not entitled to get maintenance from the husband on any legally permissible grounds."” 16] Mr.Datta learned counsel appearing for the wife has further argued that monetary contemplated under Section 20 of the DV Act is different from maintenance which can be in addition to an order of maintenance granted under Section 125 Cr.P.C. or any other law. In support of his contention Mr. Datta learned counsel has referred to the decision Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 of the Apex Court in Juveria Abdul Majid Patni vs. Atif Iqbal Mansoori And Another reported inWhile disposing of an application under sub section of section 12 the Magistrate may direct respondent to pay monetary relief to meet the expenses incurred and losses suffered by the aggrieved person and any child of the aggrieved person as a result of the domestic violence and such relief may include but is not limited to— the maintenance a) the loss of earnings b) the medical expenses loss caused due to the c) the destruction damage or removal of any property from the control of the aggrieved person and aggrieved person as well as her children if any including an order under or in addition to an order of maintenance under section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 or any other law for the time being in force. shall be adequate 2) The monetary relief granted under this fair and reasonable and consistent with the standard of living to which the aggrieved person is 3) The Magistrate shall have the power to order an appropriate lump sum payment or monthly payments of maintenance as the nature and circumstances of the case may 4) The Magistrate shall send a copy of the order for monetary relief made under sub section to the parties to the application and to the in charge of the police station Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the respondent resides. 5) The respondent shall pay the monetary relief granted to the aggrieved person within the period specified in the order under sub sectionUpon the failure on the part of the respondent to make payment in terms of the order under sub section the Magistrate may direct the employer or a debtor of the respondent to directly pay to the aggrieved person or to deposit with the court a portion of the wages or salaries or debt due to or accrued to the credit of the respondent which amount may be adjusted towards the monetary relief payable by the respondent." The Monetary relief as stipulated under Section 20 is different from maintenance which can be in addition to an order of maintenance under Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. or any other law. Such monetary relief can be granted to meet the expenses incurred and losses suffered by the aggrieved person and child of the aggrieved person as a result of the domestic violence which is not dependent on the question whether the aggrieved person on the date of filing of the application under Section 12 is in a domestic relationship with the respondent.” 17] Mr. Datta learned counsel has also placed reliance on a decision of the Delhi High Court in Shome Nikhil Danani vs. Tanya Benon Danani reported in 2019) 54 Online Del 8016 wherein the Delhi High Court has held as follows: “17. Cleary the scope of Section 20 of the DV Act is much wider than that of Section 125 Cr.P.C. While Section 125 Cr.P.C. talks only of maintenance Section 20 DV Act stipulates payment of monetary relief to meet the expenses incurred and losses suffered as a result of the domestic violence including but not limited to loss of earning medical expenses loss caused due to destruction damage or removal of Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 the DV Act any property from the control of aggrieved person. Further Section 20(1)(d) of the DV Act clearly provides proceedings under magistrate may direct the Respondent to pay the maintenance to the aggrieved person as well as her children if any including an order under or in addition to an order of maintenance under section 125 Cr.P.C. or any other law for the time being in force." 18. This clearly shows that an order under Section 20 DV Act is not restricted by an order under section 125 Cr.P.C. The Trial Court appreciating the distinction between the two provisions and the reasoning clouded by an respondent wife under section 23 was only seeking an order of maintenance which is not the case. In her application under section 23 of the DV Act the respondent wife has inter alia under Section under Section 18 apart from the monetary relief under Section 20. 19 and 19. Reference may also be had to the Judgment of a coordinate bench of this court in Karamchand & Ors Vs State NCT of Delhi & Anr181 DLT 494 and of the Supreme Court of India in Juveria Abdul Majid Khan Patni Vs Atif Iqbal Mansoori10 SCC 736 wherein the Supreme Court has held that monetary relief as stipulated under Section 20 is different from maintenance which can be in addition to an order of maintenance under Section 125 Cr.P.C. or any other the DV it may be seen 20. Further Act and under section 125 Cr.P.C are independent of each other and have different scope though there is an overlap. In so far as the overlap is concerned law has catered for that eventuality and laid down that at Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 the time of consideration of an application for grant of maintenance under DV Act fixed under section 125 Cr.P.C shall be taken into account. 21. The Judgment in the case of Rachna Katuria Versus Ramesh Kathuria relied upon by learned Senior Counsel for the Petitioner to contend that DV Act does not create any additional right to claim maintenance on the part of the aggrieved person and if a woman had already filed a suit claiming maintenance and after adjudication maintenance has been determined she does not have a right to claim additional maintenance under the DV Act is per in curium as it does not notice the very provisions of Section 20 and 23 of DV Act. Further now the Supreme Court of India in Juveria Abdul Majid Khan Patni Vs Atif Iqbal Mansoori supra) has held that monetary relief under Section 20 DV Act is in addition to maintenance under section 125 Cr.P.C.” 18] Learned counsel therefore contends that the judgment of the appellate court does not call for any interference in this criminal revision petition. 19] As discussed the wife in support of her case submitted her examination in chief on affidavit and got her subjected to cross examination before the trial court as PW 1. In her examination in chief she had repeated the incidents of torture and harassment mated out to her by her husband and reiterated that her husband had compelled her leave her matrimonial home by committing physical torture on Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 her at 8 O’clock in the morning on 17.12.2015. She also stated that as a result of his torture she received treatment from IGM Hospital Agartala as an outdoor patient on 18.12.2015. She further stated that after the said incidences she filed FIR to the Officer in charge of Amtali Police Station which was registered as Amtali P.S.Case No.2015 AMT 178 dated 17.12.2015 under Sections 498A and 325 IPC and investigation of the case was also taken up by police. During the proceeding under the DV Act at the trial court this FIR lodged by her was taken into evidence and marked as Exhibit 1. She also submitted the photocopy of doctor’s prescription to prove that she attended IGM Hospital at Agartala on 18.12.2015 in the Out Patient Department after she was assaulted by her husband on the previous day. In her cross examination she denied that her husband had taken her to NIMHANS in Bengaluru for neurological treatment. She also denied that she was advised to visit NIMHANS at the interval of every 6 months. She denied that she made false allegations of domestic violence against her husband because of the only reason that she suspected that her husband was having extramarital affair. Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 20] Elder brother of the wife was examined as PW 2. In his examination in chief submitted on affidavit he supported the case of his sister with regard to her allegations of domestic violence against her husband. The PW stated at the trial that her husband used to assault his sister almost on every day to meet his demand of dowry. His sister complained to him that her husband had developed extramarital affair. It was further stated by the PW that his sister was physically assaulted by her husband on 16.12.2015 and 17.12.2015 for which she left her matrimonial home. In his cross examination the PW asserted that he met the husband of his sister and his relatives several times for mitigation of the discord and differences between the spouses. But his efforts did not work. 21] PW 3 Ranajyoti Bhattacharjee in his examination in chief on affidavit supported the case of the wife with regard to her allegations of violence and atrocities against her husband. The PW also stated that the wife told him that her husband developed an extramarital relationship. But the PW was not produced in court for cross examination. Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 Learned counsel appearing for the husband agitated on this point. According to him the courts below should not have taken his examination in chief into consideration because this PW was not produced in court for cross examination by the husband. 22] DW 1 Ramendra Kishore Bhattacharjee the husband repeated the same story which was projected by him in his written objection against the petition of his wife. He reiterated that he never committed any sort of domestic violence on his wife. Rather he left no stone unturned for her well being. But there was no change in her conduct despite his efforts. Rather she became more violent and abusive to the husband. According to the PW his wife was always suspicious and only for this reason she brought all these false allegations against him. In his cross examination the husband admitted that he was drawing a monthly salary of ₹49 000 and he also admitted that he gave no maintenance allowance to his wife after she parted with his company. 23] DW 2 Priya Bhusan Deb is the neighbor of the husband. Priya Bhusan stated at the trial that when he was secretary of Nabajagaran Sangha a meeting Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 was held in the house of the husband at the instance of the club for settlement of the disputes between them. During such meeting it came to light that the main reason of grievance of the wife against her husband was her suspicion that her husband had an extramarital affair. They tried to restore their relationship but their efforts did not work. 24] DW 3 Smt. Rekha Roy another neighbor of the husband has also given similar evidence. She also supported the fact that a meeting was held in the house of the husband at the instance of local club where efforts were taken to solve the differences between the spouses. But the efforts failed since the wife had suspected her husband to have extramarital affair. 25] The core issue which has been agitated by learned counsel appearing for the husband is that relief under the DV Act has been provided to the wife in absence of any proof of domestic violence. 26] Under Section 12 of the DV Act only the aggrieved person or a protection officer appointed under the DV Act or any other person on behalf the aggrieved person may present an application to the Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 magistrate seeking one or more reliefs under this Act. It would be apposite to reproduce Section 12 of the DV Act at this juncture which is as under: “12. Application to Magistrate.—(1) An aggrieved person or a Protection Officer or any other person on behalf of the aggrieved person may present an application to the Magistrate seeking one or more reliefs under this Act: Provided that before passing any order on such application the Magistrate shall take into consideration any domestic incident report received by him from the Protection Officer or the service provider. 2) The relief sought for under sub section may include a relief for issuance of an order for payment of compensation or damages without prejudice to the right of such person to institute a suit for compensation or damages for the injuries caused by the acts of domestic violence committed by the respondent: Provided that where a decree for any amount as compensation or damages has been passed by any court in favour of the aggrieved person the amount if any paid or payable in pursuance of the order made by the Magistrate under this Act shall be set off against the amount payable under such decree and the decree shall notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 or any other law for the time being in force be executable for the balance amount if any left after such set off. 3) Every application under sub section shall be in such form and contain such particulars as may be prescribed or as nearly as possible thereto. 4) The Magistrate shall fix the first date of hearing which shall not ordinarily be beyond three days from the date of receipt of the application by the court. 5) The Magistrate shall Endeavour to dispose of every application made under sub sectionwithin a period of sixty days from the date of its first hearing.” 27] Aggrieved person has been defined under Section 2(a) of the DV Act which reads as under: Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 “2. Definitions.—In this Act unless the context otherwise requires — a) “aggrieved person” means any woman who is or has been in a domestic relationship with the respondent and who alleges to have been subjected to any act of domestic violence by the respondent b) ............................................................. c) ............................................................. 28] A conjoined reading of Section 12 and Section 2(a) makes it abundantly clear that relief under the DV Act can be granted only to an aggrieved person defined under the DV Act and an aggrieved person has been defined as a woman who is or has been in a domestic relationship with the respondent who alleges to have been subjected to any act of domestic violence by the respondent. Therefore allegation of domestic violence is a sine qua non for pursuing a petition under the DV Act. 29] In this case the wife who filed the application under Section 12 of the DV Act in the trial court is obviously an aggrieved person within the meaning of the Act because she made allegations of domestic violence against her husband and the fact that she was in a domestic relationship with the husband as Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 his wife has been admitted by her respondent husband. the question is whether the wife proved commission of domestic violence against her husband at the trial court and become entitled to a relief under Section 12 of the DV Act. 30] In the definition clause of the DV Act i.e. Section 2 under clause states that domestic violence has the same meaning as assigned to it in Section 3 of the DV Act. Section 3 of the DV Act defines domestic violence as under: “3. Definition of domestic violence.—For the purposes of this Act any act omission or commission or conduct of the respondent shall constitute domestic violence in case it— a) harms or injures or endangers the health safety life limb or well being whether mental or physical of the aggrieved person or tends to do so and includes causing physical abuse sexual abuse verbal and emotional abuse and economic abuse or b) harasses harms injures or endangers the aggrieved person with a view to coerce her or any other person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any dowry or other property or valuable security or c) has the effect of threatening the aggrieved person or any person related to her by any conduct mentioned in clauseor clauseor d) otherwise injures or causes harm whether physical or mental to the aggrieved person. Explanation I.—For the purposes of this section — i) “physical abuse” means any act or conduct which is of such a nature as to cause bodily pain harm or danger to life limb or health or impair the health or Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 development of the aggrieved person and includes assault criminal intimidation and criminal force ii) “sexual abuse” includes any conduct of a sexual nature that abuses humiliates degrades or otherwise violates the dignity of woman iii) “verbal and emotional abuse” includes— a) insults ridicule humiliation name calling and insults or ridicule specially with regard to not having a child or a male child and b) repeated threats to cause physical pain to any person in whom the aggrieved person is interested iv) “economic abuse” includes— a) deprivation of all or any economic or financial resources to which the aggrieved person is entitled under any law or custom whether payable under an order of a court or otherwise or which the aggrieved person requires out of necessity to house hold including but not necessities for the aggrieved person and her children if any stridhan property jointly or separately owned by the aggrieved person payment of rental related to the shared house hold and maintenance b) disposal of household effects any alienation of assets whether movable or immovable valuables shares securities bonds and the like or other property in which the aggrieved person has an interest or is entitled to use by virtue of the domestic relationship or which may be reasonably required by the aggrieved person or her children or her stridhan or any other property jointly or separately held by the aggrieved person and c) prohibition or restriction to continued access to resources or facilities which the aggrieved person is entitled to use or enjoy by virtue of the domestic relationship including access to the shared household. Explanation II.—For the purpose of determining whether any act omission commission or conduct of the respondent constitutes “domestic violence” under this section the overall facts and circumstances of the case shall be taken into consideration.” Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 31] Apparently domestic violence has been defined under Section 3 of the Act in a very wider term and with regard to proof of domestic violence explanation II to said Section 3 provides that for determining whether any act an omission commission or conduct of the respondent constitutes “domestic violence” under the said Section the overall facts and circumstances of the case shall be taken consideration. 32] It may be recalled that in the present case the spouses have brought allegations and counter allegations against each other and additional sessions Judge after examining allegations and the materials placed before the court by the contesting spouses set aside the protection order as against the mother brother and the sister of the husband. While affirming the protection order as well as the monetary relief against the husband the residence order for payment of house rent @Rs.2000 per month to the wife under Section 19(f) was also set aside by the learned Additional Sessions Judge by the impugned Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 33] In gist the Additional Sessions Judge upheld the direction of the trial court prohibiting the husband from committing any kind of domestic violence or aiding or abetting in the commission of any act of domestic violence upon the wife and by means of monetary relief as under Section 20 of the Act the order for payment of ₹15 000 to the wife was also upheld. 34] In the instant case during his cross examination before the trial court the husband had categorically admitted that his monthly salary was ₹49 000 excluding all deductions. He also admitted that he gave nothing towards maintenance of his wife from 13.12.2015. His statement is reproduced as “At present my gross salary is 49 000 excluding deductions. It is true that I have not given any maintenance to my wife since 13.12.2015.” 35] Section 20 of the DV Act provides for payment of monetary relief to the aggrieved person which reads as under: “20. Monetary reliefs.—(1) While disposing of an application under sub section of section 12 the Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 Magistrate may direct the respondent to pay monetary relief to meet the expenses incurred and losses suffered by the aggrieved person and any child of the aggrieved person as a result of the domestic violence and such relief may include but not limited to — a) the loss of earnings b) the medical expenses c) the loss caused due to the destruction damage or removal of any property from the control of the aggrieved person and d) the maintenance for the aggrieved person as well as her children if any including an order under or in addition to an order of maintenance under section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973or any other law for the time being in force. 2) The monetary relief granted under this section shall be adequate fair and reasonable and consistent with the standard of living to which the aggrieved person is accustomed. 3) The Magistrate shall have the power to order an appropriate lump sum payment or monthly payments of maintenance as the nature and circumstances of the case may require. 4) The Magistrate shall send a copy of the order for monetary relief made under sub sectionto the parties to the application and to the in charge of the police station within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the respondent resides. 5) The respondent shall pay the monetary relief granted to the aggrieved person within the period specified in the order under sub sectionUpon the failure on the part of the respondent to make payment in terms of the order under sub section the Magistrate may direct the employer or a debtor of the respondent to directly pay to the aggrieved person or to deposit with the court a portion of the wages or salaries or debt due to or accrued to the credit of the respondent which amount may be adjusted towards the monetary relief payable by the respondent.” 36] Under Section 3 of the DV Act which defines domestic violence ‘economic abuse’ is a form of Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 domestic violence. Clause of explanation I of Section 3 relates to ‘economic abuse’ which includes deprivation of all or any economic financial resources to which the aggrieved person is entitled under any law or custom whether payable under an order of a court or otherwise. The said clause of the Explanation I of Section 3 of the DV Act reads as under: “(iv) “economic abuse” includes— a) deprivation of all or any economic or financial resources to which the aggrieved person is entitled under any law or custom whether payable under an order of a court or otherwise or which the aggrieved person requires out of necessity including but not limited 5 to house hold necessities for the aggrieved person and her children if any stridhan property jointly or separately owned by the aggrieved person payment of rental related to the shared house hold and maintenance b) disposal of household effects any alienation of assets whether movable or immovable valuables shares securities bonds and the like or other property in which the aggrieved person has an interest or is entitled to use by virtue of the domestic relationship or which may be reasonably required by the aggrieved person or her children or her stridhan or any other property jointly or separately held by the aggrieved person and c) prohibition or restriction to continued access to resources or facilities which the aggrieved person is entitled to use or enjoy by virtue of the domestic relationship including access to the shared household.” Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 37] In the present case obviously the wife is legally entitled to maintenance allowance from her husband who is a salaried government employee. She has made out a good case justifying her separate living. Admittedly she is a housewife and she has no source of earning whereas the husband draws a monthly salary of ₹49 000 all deductions. circumstances denial of maintenance allowance to the wife obviously causes ‘economic abuse’ to her within the meaning of domestic violence as under Section 3 of the DV Act. There is therefore no infirmity in the impugned judgment. 38] In so far as the quantum of monetary relief is concerned it is asserted by the husband in his memo of appeal that the Family Court Agartala in Misc. case No. 463 of 2017 also directed the husband to pay monthly maintenance allowance of ₹6 000 to his wife and it has been averted by the husband that the learned trial court as well as the appellate court committed error in not taking into account this amount while determining the amount of monetary relief in the proceeding under the DV Act. The Apex Court in case of Rajnesh vs. Neha has held that maintenance Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 provided in a previously instituted proceeding can be adjusted or set off in the subsequent proceeding. Though the husband has not produced any document with regard to his averment that there is an order passed by the Family Court for payment of monthly maintenance allowance of Rs.6000 to the wife such amount if any shall be adjusted towards the said amount of ₹15 000 in view of the directions issued by the Apex Court in the case of Rajnesh vs. Neha(supra). 39] The husband will therefore pay ₹15 000 to his wife as monetary relief as directed by the Additional Sessions Judge by the impugned judgment w.e.f the date of filing of the petition i.e. from 01.10.2018. The said monetary relief shall be paid by the husband by depositing the same in her savings bank account. The learned Judge Family Court Agartala will determine the mode of payment of the outstanding arrear till 31.01.2021 after issuing notice to the parties and hearing them in person. If the husband fails to pay the arrear the same shall be deducted from his salary and paid to the wife. 40] Resultantly the petition stands dismissed. Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 Interim order with regard to monetary relief if any stands vacated. Send back the LCR. Pending application(s) if any also stands disposed of. Copy of this judgment be supplied to the parties and a copy be sent to Judge Family Court Agartala immediately. Saikat Sarma Crl.Rev. P.36 2020 

Summary: Denial of maintenance to wife causes “Economic abuse” under section 3 of the Domestic Violence Act. Tripura High Court gave the decision and upheld the judgment of the Additional Sessions Judge in the case of Ramendra Kishore Bhattacharjee vs. Smt.Madhurima Bhattacharjee [Crl.Rev.P.No.36 of 2020] by the bench of Hon’ble Justice SG Chattopadhyay. According to the facts of the above-cited case, the wife of the petitioner had filed an application under the Domestic Violence Act against her husband for seeking relief. She had contended that her husband abused and assaulted her for dowry &amp; also developed an extra-marital affair. Later on, she took a divorce from the petitioner. The petitioner had argued that all the allegations against him were false and frivolous. According to him, his wife was very arrogant and torturous from the beginning of their marriage. He also approached the State Legal Services Authority for a settlement. His efforts yielded no result. Ultimately, his wife filed an FIR against him and his old parents. They also had a son, whose custody was given to the petitioner. Considering the above-cited facts, Trial Court had directed the petitioner to pay Rs 15000 per month as maintenance to his wife; against which the petitioner and his family had filed an application challenging the trial court judgment. In the High Court, the petitioner contended that he had medical expenses of his old mother and all the expenses of his school-going son. Whereas, his wife’s counsel argued that since the petitioner was a govt. employee, he was eligible to pay maintenance to his wife. It was also argued that the monetary relief u/s 20 is different from maintenance u/s 125 CrPC. While referring to the judgment of Juveria Abdul Majid Patni vs. Atif Iqbal Mansoori and another, the High Court stated that “The judgment of the appellate court does not call for any interference in this criminal revision petition”.