Shabana
Bano Vs. Imran Khan [2009] INSC 1783 (4 December 2009)
Judgment
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL
NO.2309 OF 2009 [Arising out of S.L.P.(Crl.) No.717 of 2009] Shabana Bano
....Appellant Versus Imran Khan ....Respondent
Deepak
Verma, J.
1.
Leave granted.
2.
Appellant Shabana Bano was married to the respondent Imran Khan
according to Muslim rites at Gwalior on 26.11.2001. According to the appellant,
at the time of marriage, necessary household goods to be used by the couple
were given. However, despite this, the respondent-husband and his family
members treated the appellant with cruelty and continued to demand more dowry.
Crl.A. @
SLP(Crl.)NO.717/09
3.
After some time, the appellant became pregnant and was taken to
her parents' house by the respondent. The respondent threatened the appellant
that in case his demand of dowry is not met by the appellant's parents, then
she would not be taken back to her matrimonial home even after delivery.
4.
Appellant delivered a child in her parental home. Since even after
delivery, respondent did not think it proper to discharge his responsibility by
taking her back, she was constrained to file a petition under Section 125 of
the Code of Criminal Procedure (for short, 'Cr.P.C.') against the respondent in
the Court of Family Judge, Gwalior. It was averred by the appellant that
respondent has been earning a sum of Rs. 12,000/- per month by doing some
private work and she had no money to maintain herself and her new-born child.
Thus, she claimed a sum of Rs.3000/- per month from the respondent towards
maintenance.
5.
On notice being issued to the respondent, he Crl.A. @
SLP(Crl.)NO.717/09 -3- denied all the contents of the petition filed by the
appellant under Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. except admitting his marriage with
the appellant.
6.
Preliminary objections were raised by the respondent that
appellant has already been divorced on 20.8.2004 in accordance with Muslim Law.
Thus, under the provisions of Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce)
Act, 1986 (hereinafter referred to as `Muslim Act'), appellant is not entitled
to any maintenance after the divorce and after the expiry of the iddat period.
It was also contended by him that appellant herself is earning Rs.6,000/- per
month by giving private tuitions and is not dependent on the income of the
respondent, thus, she is not entitled to any maintenance. It was also contended
by respondent that appellant had gone to her parental home on her own free-will
and accord, after taking all the jewellery and a sum of Rs.1000/- and despite
notice being sent, she has not returned to her matrimonial home. Thus, for all
these reasons, she is Crl.A. @ SLP(Crl.)NO.717/09 -4- not entitled to receive
any amount of maintenance.
7.
The Family Court was pleased to frame issues and parties went to
trial. After considering the matter from all angles, the learned Judge of the
Family Court partly allowed the appellant's application as under:
"(1)
respondent shall pay Rs.2000/- per month as maintenance allowance to the
petitioner from 26.4.2004, date of institution of petition to the date of
divorce, i.e. 20.8.2004 and thereafter from 20.8.2004 to the period of iddat.
(2)
respondent will bear cost of the suit of himself as well as of
petitioner."
8.
Thus, the claim of the appellant was allowed to the extent of Rs.
2,000/- per month towards maintenance from the date of institution of the
petition till the date of divorce, i.e., 20.8.2004 and further from the said
date till the expiry of iddat period but amount of maintenance thereafter was denied.
9.
The appellant was, therefore, constrained to carry the matter
further by filing Criminal Revision Crl.A. @ SLP(Crl.)NO.717/09 -5- No. 285 of
2008 before the Gwalior Bench of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh. The said
Criminal Revision came to be disposed of by learned Single Judge on 26.9.2008
and the order of the Family Court has substantially been upheld and
consequently, the appellant's Revision has been dismissed. It is this order and
the order passed by the Family Court which are the subject-matter of challenge
in this appeal by grant of special leave.
10.
At the outset, learned counsel for the appellant contended that
learned Single Judge has gravely erred in dismissing the appellant's Revision
on misconception of law on the ground that after divorce of a Muslim wife, a
petition under Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. would not be maintainable. It was
also contended that learned Single Judge proceeded on wrong assumption in
dismissing appellant's Revision claiming maintenance under Section 125 of the
Cr.P.C. It was also argued that both the courts below completely lost sight of
the provisions of Section 7(1)(f) of the Crl.A. @ SLP(Crl.)NO.717/09 -6- Family
Courts Act, 1984 (hereinafter referred to as the 'Family Act').
11.
On the other hand, Shri S.K. Dubey, learned Senior Counsel for the
respondent contended that no illegality or perversity can be found in the order
passed by the learned Single Judge and the same calls for no interference. It
was also contended that the appeal being devoid of any merit and substance,
deserves to be dismissed.
12.
In the light of the aforesaid contentions, we have heard the
learned counsel for the parties and perused the records.
13.
The basic and foremost question that arises for consideration is
whether a Muslim divorced wife would be entitled to receive the amount of
maintenance from her divorced husband under Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. and, if
yes, then through which forum.
14.
Section 4 of Muslim Act reads as under:
"4.
Order for payment of maintenance:
-(1) Notwithstanding
anything contained Crl.A. @ SLP(Crl.)NO.717/09 -7- in the foregoing provisions
of this Act or in any other law for the time being in force, where a Magistrate
is satisfied that a divorced woman has not re-married and is not able to
maintain herself after the iddat period, he may make an order directing such of
her relatives as would be entitled to inherit her property on her death
according to Muslim law to pay such reasonable and fair maintenance to her as
he may determine fit and proper, having regard to the needs of the divorced
woman, the standard of life enjoyed by her during her marriage and the means of
such relatives and such maintenance shall be payable by such relatives in the
proportions in which they would inherit her property and at such periods as he
may specify in his order:
Provided
that where such divorced woman has children, the Magistrate shall order only
such children to pay maintenance to her, and in the event of any such children
being unable to pay such maintenance, the Magistrate shall order the parents of
such divorced woman to pay maintenance to her:
Provided
further that if any of the parents is unable to pay his or her share of the
maintenance ordered by the Magistrate on the ground of his or her not having
the means to pay the same, the Magistrate may, on proof of such inability being
furnished to him, order that the share of such relatives in the maintenance
ordered by him be paid by Crl.A. @ SLP(Crl.)NO.717/09 -8- such of the other
relatives as may appear to the Magistrate to have the means of paying the same
in such proportions as the Magistrate may think fit to order.
(2) Where
a divorced woman is unable to maintain herself and she has no relatives as
mentioned in sub-section (1) or such relatives or any one of them have not
enough means to pay the maintenance ordered by the Magistrate or the other
relatives have not the means to pay the shares of those relatives whose shares
have been ordered by the Magistrate to be paid by such other relatives under
the second proviso to sub-section (1), the Magistrate may, by order, direct the
State Wakf Board established under Section 9 of the Wakf Act, 1954 (29 of
1954), or under any other law for the time being in force in a State,
functioning in the area in which the woman resides, to pay such maintenance as
determined by him under sub-section (1) or, as the case may be, to pay the
shares of such of the relatives who are unable to pay, at such periods as he
may specify in his order."
15.
Section 5 thereof deals with the option to be governed by the
provisions of Section 125 to 128 of the Cr.P.C. It appears that parties had not
given any joint or separate application for being considered by the Court.
Section 7 thereof deals with transitional Crl.A. @ SLP(Crl.)NO.717/09 -9-
provisions.
16.
Family Act, was enacted w.e.f. 14th September, 1984 with a view to
promote conciliation in, and secure speedy settlement of, disputes relating to
marriage and family affairs and for matters connected therewith.
17.
The purpose of enactment was essentially to set up family courts
for the settlement of family disputes, emphasizing on conciliation and
achieving socially desirable results and adherence to rigid rules of procedure
and evidence should be eliminated.
In other
words, the purpose was for early settlement of family disputes.
18.
The Act, inter alia, seeks to exclusively provide within jurisdiction
of the family courts the matters relating to maintenance, including proceedings
under Chapter IX of the Cr.P.C.
19.
Section 7 appearing in Chapter III of the Family Act deals with
Jurisdiction. Relevant provisions thereof read as under:
Crl.A. @
SLP(Crl.)NO.717/09 - 10 - "7. Jurisdiction-(1) Subject to the other
provisions of this Act, a Family Court shall - (a) have and exercise all the
jurisdiction exercisable by any district Court or any subordinate civil Court
under any law for the time being in force in respect of suits and proceedings
of the nature referred to in the Explanation; and (b) be deemed, for the
purposes of exercising such jurisdiction under such law, to be a district Court
or, as the case may be, such subordinate civil Court for the area to which the
jurisdiction of the Family Court extends.
Explanation.-
The suits and proceedings referred to in this sub- section are suits and
proceedings of the following nature, namely:- (a) .... .... ....
(b) ....
.... ....
(c) ....
.... ....
(d) ....
.... ....
(e) ....
.... ....
(f) a
suit or proceeding for maintenance;
(g) ....
.... ...."
20.
Section 20 of the Family Act appearing in Chapter VI deals with
overriding effect of the provisions of the Act. The said section reads as
Crl.A. @ SLP(Crl.)NO.717/09 - 11 - under :
"20.
Act to have overriding effect - The provisions of this Act shall have effect
notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for
the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law
other than this Act."
21.
Bare perusal of Section 20 of the Family Act makes it crystal
clear that the provisions of this Act shall have overriding effect on all other
enactments in force dealing with this issue.
22.
Thus, from the abovementioned provisions it is quite discernible
that a Family Court established under the Family Act shall exclusively have
jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the applications filed under Section 125 of
Cr.P.C.
23.
In the light of the aforesaid contentions and in view of the
pronouncement of judgments detailing the said issue, learned counsel for the
appellant submits that matter stands finally settled but learned Single Judge
wholly misconstrued the various provisions of the different Acts as mentioned
Crl.A. @ SLP(Crl.)NO.717/09 - 12 - hereinabove, thus, committed a grave error
in rejecting the appellant's prayer.
24.
In our opinion, the point stands settled by judgment of this Court
reported in (2001) 7 SCC 740 pronounced by a Constitution Bench of this Court.
Paras 30,
31 and 32 thereof fully establish the said right of the appellant. The said
paragraphs are reproduced hereinunder :
"30.
A comparison of these provisions with Section 125 CrPC will make it clear that
requirements provided in Section 125 and the purpose, object and scope thereof
being to prevent vagrancy by compelling those who can do so to support those
who are unable to support themselves and who have a normal and legitimate claim
to support are satisfied. If that is so, the argument of the petitioners that a
different scheme being provided under the Act which is equally or more
beneficial on the interpretation placed by us from the one provided under the
Code of Criminal Procedure deprive them of their right, loses its significance.
The object and scope of Section 125 CrPC is to prevent vagrancy by compelling
those who are under an obligation to support those who are unable to support
themselves and that object being fulfilled, we find it difficult to accept the
contention urged on behalf of the petitioners.
Crl.A. @
SLP(Crl.)NO.717/09 - 13 -
31. Even
under the Act, the parties agreed that the provisions of Section 125 CrPC would
still be attracted and even otherwise, the Magistrate has been conferred with
the power to make appropriate provision for maintenance and, therefore, what
could be earlier granted by a Magistrate under Section 125 CrPC would now be
granted under the very Act itself.
This
being the position, the Act cannot be held to be unconstitutional.
32. As on
the date the Act came into force the law applicable to Muslim divorced women is
as declared by this Court in Shah Bano's case [(1985) 2 SCC 556 Mohd. Ahmed
Khan vs. Shah Bano Begum & Ors.]. In this case to find out the personal law
of Muslims with regard to divorced women's rights, the starting point should be
Shah Bano's case and not the original texts or any other material - all the
more so when varying versions as to the authenticity of the source are shown to
exist.
Hence, we
have refrained from referring to them in detail. That declaration was made
after considering the Holy Quran, and other commentaries or other texts. When a
Constitution Bench of this Court analysed Suras 241-242 of Chapter II of the
Holy Quran and other relevant textual material, we do not think, it is open for
us to re-examine that position and delve into a research to reach another
conclusion. We respectfully abide by what has been stated therein. All that
needs to be considered is whether in the Act specific deviation has been made
from the personal laws as declared by this Court in Shah Bano's case without
mutilating its underlying ratio. We have carefully analysed the same and come
to the conclusion that the Act actually and in reality codifies what was stated
in Shah Bano's case. The learned Crl.A. @ SLP(Crl.)NO.717/09 - 14 - Solicitor
General contended that what has been stated in the Objects and Reasons in Bill
leading to the Act is a fact and that we should presume to be correct. We have
analysed the facts and the law in Shah Bano's case and proceeded to find out
the impact of the same on the Act. If the language of the Act is as we have
stated, the mere fact that the Legislature took note of certain facts in
enacting the law will not be of much materiality."
25.
Judgment of this Court reported in (2007) 6 whereby the provisions
contained in Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. have been aptly considered and the
relevant portion of the order passed in Iqbal Bano's case reads as under:
"10.
Proceedings under Section 125 Cr.P.C. are civil in nature. Even if the Court
noticed that there was a divorced woman in the case in question, it was open to
it to treat it as a petition under the Act considering the beneficial nature of
the legislation. Proceedings under Section 125 Cr.P.C. and claims made under
the Act are tried by the same court. In Vijay Kumar was held that proceedings
under Section 125 Cr.P.C. are civil in nature. It was noted as follows: (SCC
p.200, Para 14).
14. The
basic distinction between Section 488 of the old Code and Section 126 of the
Code is that Section 126 has Crl.A. @ SLP(Crl.)NO.717/09 - 15 - essentially
enlarged the venue of proceedings for maintenance so as to move the place where
the wife may be residing on the date of application. The change was thought
necessary because of certain observations by the Law Commission, taking note of
the fact that often deserted wives are compelled to live with their relatives
far away from the place where the husband and wife last resided together. As
noted by this Court in several cases, proceedings under Section 125 of the Code
are of civil nature. Unlike clauses (b) and (c) of Section 126 (1) an
application by the father or the mother claiming maintenance has to be filed
where the person from whom maintenance is claimed lives."
26.
In the light of the findings already recorded in earlier paras, it
is not necessary for us to go into the merits. The point stands well settled
which we would like to reiterate.
27.
The appellant's petition under Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. would be
maintainable before the Family Court as long as appellant does not remarry. The
amount of maintenance to be awarded under Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. cannot be
restricted for the iddat period only.
Crl.A. @
SLP(Crl.)NO.717/09 - 16 -
28.
Learned Single Judge appeared to be little confused with regard to
different provisions of Muslim Act, Family Act and Cr.P.C. and thus was wholly
unjustified in rejecting the appellant's Revision.
29.
Cumulative reading of the relevant portions of judgments of this
Court in Danial Latifi (supra) and Iqbal Bano (supra) would make it crystal
clear that even a divorced Muslim woman would be entitled to claim maintenance
from her divorced husband, as long as she does not remarry. This being a
beneficial piece of legislation, the benefit thereof must accrue to the
divorced Muslim women.
30.
In the light of the aforesaid discussion, the impugned orders are
hereby set aside and quashed. It is held that even if a Muslim woman has been
divorced, she would be entitled to claim maintenance from her husband under
Section 125 of the Cr.P.C.
after the
expiry of period of iddat also, as long as she does not remarry.
Crl.A. @
SLP(Crl.)NO.717/09 - 17 -
31.
As a necessary consequence thereof, the matter is remanded to the
Family Court at Gwalior for its disposal on merits at an early date, in
accordance with law. The respondent shall bear the cost of litigation of the
appellant. Counsel's fees Rs.5,000/-.
32.
Consequently, the appeal stands allowed to the extent indicated
above.
......................J. [B. SUDERSHAN REDDY]
......................J. [DEEPAK VERMA]
New Delhi.
December 04, 2009.
Back
