Manu Khanna Tr. Mother
Vs. V.P.Sharma & ANR. [2008] INSC 2100 (5 December 2008)
Judgment
CRIMINAL APPELLATE
JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1991 OF 2008 [arising out of SLP [Crl.] No.1370
of 2008] Manu Khanna (Minor) through his ......... Appellant mother Dr. Poonam
Khanna V. P. Sharma & Anr. ...... Respondents
O R D E R
1.
Leave
granted. Heard the parties.
2.
The
appellant is the minor son of first respondent and Dr. Poonam Khanna. He is
represented by his mother. While the appellant's mother claims that the
appellant is mentally challenged, the respondent denies it. The appellant filed
a petition under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for maintenance.
In the said proceedings, the learned Magistrate by his order dated 26.6.2006 directed
the first respondent to pay interim maintenance of Rs.5,000/- per month to the
appellant.
3.
The
appellant challenged the order of the learned Magistrate by filing a Criminal
Revision Petition before the High Court. The appellant contended that the sum
of Rs.5,000/- per month was inadequate and the interim maintenance should be
higher. A learned Single Judge of the High Court by the impugned order dated
9.7.2007 considered the matter in detail and found no reason to interfere with
the order of the learned Magistrate fixing Rs.5,000/- per month as interim
maintenance. He directed that the main petition itself should be proceeded with
and disposed of by the learned Magistrate expeditiously, preferably within four
months from that date. By subsequent order dated 16.11.2007, the time for
disposal was extended upto 31.1.2008. The orders of the High Court are
challenged by the appellant.
4.
The
appellant's mother, who appeared in person, submitted that the quantum of
interim maintenance is inadequate both from the point of view of the need of
the appellant and the income of the respondent. On the other hand, the
respondent contended that the determination of Rs.5,000/- per month as interim
maintenance was proper and adequate. But nevertheless, he offered to pay Rs.7,500/-
3 per month subject to the final decision in the pending proceedings, to put an
end to the issue. On the facts and circumstances, we are of the view that the
said payment will be adequate and appropriate as interim maintenance.
5.
The
respondent submitted that the issue of visitation right so as to enable him to
spend time with his son, is pending and that issue may be linked and considered
with this issue. The appellant's mother contended that no such issue is
pending. It is unnecessary to examine that question as that is not the subject
matter of this appeal.
6.
Though
the order of the High Court was passed more than one year and five months ago,
it is stated that the main matter is still pending before the learned
Magistrate.
If the parties had co-operated
with the learned Magistrate, as directed by the High Court, the main matter
itself would have been over by now. During arguments, the mother of the
appellant (representing the appellant) and the father of the appellant
displayed considerable acrimony towards each other and put forth contentions
which are unnecessary to decide a simple interim maintenance issue. They also
tend to bring in extraneous issues. The learned Magistrate shall deal with any
request for adjournment sternly and restrict 4 the parties strictly to the
issue at hand, to ensure that the main case is completed at least by 31.3.2009.
7.
We
therefore dispose of this appeal by increasing the interim maintenance to
Rs.7,500/- per month from 1.12.2008 till final decision in the pending proceedings
before the learned Magistrate. Both the parties shall extend full co- operation
for the early disposal. It is made clear that the amount determined is purely
as an interim measure and the learned Magistrate will decide the main
maintenance petition without being influenced by any observation made by the
High Court or this Court on the issue of the interim maintenance.
__________________J.
(R. V. Raveendran)
___________________J.
New
Delhi;
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