Ratanlal Tikaram Goyal vs Pratibha Prabhakar Gokhale @ Pratibha Ratanlal Goyal

V.P. Tipnis, J.—This is an application for condonation of delay in preferring appeal from the judgment and decree of the Family Court at Pune. The petitioner-husband filed petition u/s 12 of the Hindu Marriage Act for obtaining a decree of nullity of his marriage with the respondent. The petition was presented to the Family Court at Pune on 24th July, 1989. The petition was fixed for hearing on 19th April, 1990. The petitioner remained absent on the date of hearing and hence, the petition came to be dismissed for default.

Thereafter, the petitioner made Misc. Application No. 55 of 1990 to the Family Court under Order 9 Rule 9 of the Code of Civil Procedure, for setting aside the dismissal of the petition. The reason given by the petitioner for setting aside the ex parte decree was that from 9th April, 1990 he was sick. His sickness was of such a degree that he could not move out of his house. Due to the acute disease of jaundice, he was required to remain at home. For this reason, viz., the inability to move due to serious illness, he remained absent on 19th April, 1990. He further contended that he was advised by Doctor to take bed rest still 30th Nov., 1990. Thereafter, when he came to the Court on 6-12-1990 he came to know that the petition was dismissed for default on 19th April, 1990. The respondent-wife contested the application. She stated that it is false to suggest that the petitioner was unable to attend the Court between 8th April, 1990 and 5th December, 1990. She contended that as a matter of fact, during this period, the petitioner was carrying on his daily activities in various offices. He was working as Finance Manager during this period in one company. He had lodged complaint at Police Station on 21st November, 1990 by personally going there.

By judgment and order dated 29th April, 1991, the learned Principal Judge, Family Court No. 2 Pune, rejected the application of the petitioner for setting aside the ex parte decree. The learned Judge considered the case made out by the petitioner. The learned Judge also referred to the evidence of witness Dr. Kherde. The learned Judge observed that from the evidence of Dr. Kherde, it is clear that though the applicant was unwell from about March or April 1990, he was moving pretty often. The Doctor has stated he was coming to his hospital every two or three days and later on he was visiting him at least in a fortnight or so. The learned Judge has also mentioned the fact that the petitioner resides at Kasarwadi and Dr. Kherde is having his dispensary on Tadiwala Road and the distance between the two places is around 8 to 10 kms. The learned Judge also made a pointed reference to the petitioner''s version that he was attending his office at least 15 times during the period of April to November, 1990. His office is at Narayan Peth which is also far away from Kasarwadi. The learned Judge observed that the petitioner even attended his place of service at Ram Krishi Rasayan Ltd. in Loni Kalibhor for at least 15 to 20 times during April to November 1990 and he also went personally to the police station at Narayan Peth to lodge a complaint. The learned Judge on the basis of appreciation of evidence held that it is obvious that the petitioner has not proved that he was prevented from moving the Court by application under Order 9 Rule 9 of the C.P.C. during this period. On the basis of facts and circumstances on record, the learned Judge held that the petitioner has not only not made out any just or sufficient cause but has not also explained the delay in making the application under Order 9 Rule 9 of the C.P.C.

The petitioner wants to challenge the aforesaid order, but unfortunately the appeal preferred by the petitioner is also beyond limitation and that is how the present Civil Application is filed for condonation of delay in preferring the appeal. In the present application, the petitioner has stated that after the decision of the aforesaid Misc. Application, the petitioner applied for the certified copy of the order. After the receipt of the order, the petitioner handed over the same to the learned Advocate in Pune for taking necessary steps in the matter. The petitioner has further stated that due to inadvertence, the said papers remained to be forwarded to the Advocate at Bombay who was supposed to file an appeal in this Court. The application further mentions that both the Advocates were under the bona fide impression that the limitation for filing the said appeal is 90 days and on that Court there is a delay of preferring the appeal of 66 days. The petitioner states that his calculation is a bona fide mistake. The petitioner has therefore stated that the delay be condoned.

Rule was issued on this application and the respondent-wife has appeared and stoutly opposed the application for condonation of delay. In the affidavit-in-reply, the respondent-wife has given rather unfortunate details of the sorry tale. It is pointed put that on 18th August, 1988 the petitioner and the respondent got married and the marriage was registered with the Sub-Registrar, Haveli. At the time of the marriage, the petitioner was staying in a lodge. Therefore, he requested the respondent-wife to stay with her parents for a few months. The petitioner also used to stay with the respondent at her parent''s house and the marriage was consummated. On 1st March, 1989 when the brother of the respondent visited the residence of the petitioner, he found another woman there. On enquiry he learnt that the petitioner had performed marriage with that another woman at Alandi Temple and this marriage was also registered. When the other lady came to know about the marriage of the petitioner with the respondent-wife, she was shocked and she lodged a complaint with Dectan Gymkhana Police Station an 2nd March, 1989. The petitioner was arrested for offences under Sections 494 and 420 and investigation commenced. After completion of the investigation, charge-sheet was submitted in which the name of the respondent was shown as a prosecution witness. As for a considerable period, no summons was received, the respondent enquired in the Court regarding Case No. 164 of 1989 and to her surprise she learnt that the case was compounded and disposed of. Thereafter, the respondent filed a private criminal case against the petitioner-husband and process has been issued and the case is pending. The respondent contended that the present application and the continuation of the proceedings is nothing but pure harassment. The continuation of the proceedings would result into unjust harassment to the respondent. It is further pointed out in the affidavit-in-reply that the petitioner is a Chartered Accountant and also holds LL.B. degree. He is educated and under the circumstances, he was expected to be more responsible. It is pointedly mentioned that there is no question of bona fide impression that limitation is 90 days because the appeal is not even filed within 90 days. It is, therefore, asserted in the affidavit that not only the application is not bona fide but it is a deliberate attempt to protract the litigation.

After having seriously considered the rival submissions, we are of the clear view that the petitioner has not made out any case for condonation of delay. We also share the impression of the respondent-wife that the application is not bona fide. It is difficult to accept that practising Advocates at Pune and at Bombay in the year 1992 will have bona fide impression that limitation is 90 days. That apart, even giving the maximum benefit, the appeal ought to have been filed at least within 90 days. Even that is not done. No affidavit of any Advocate is filed in support of the so-called bona fide impression. Normally, the Courts have been dealing with applications for condonation of delay with liberal attitude. However, considering the effect on the parties to the litigation of any protracted litigation, we feel that undue liberal approach cannot be always just and fair. In the facts and circumstances of the case before us, we are not inclined to condone the delay.

Accordingly, the rule is discharged. The petitioner shall pay the costs of the respondent-wife of this civil application.