S.Pandian vs Swapna Rajasekaran, & Anr.

This Civil Miscellaneous Appeal has been directed against the order dated 09.09.2016 passed in I.A.No.1661 of 2015 in O.P.No.3711 of

2014, by the Family Court, Chennai.

The appellant herein, as petitioner, has filed O.P.No.3711 of 2014, on the file of the trial Court, praying to pass a decree of divorce, wherein,

the first respondent herein has been arrayed as respondent.

During pendency of the same, the first respondent herein, for herself and on behalf of her minor daughter, has filed I.A.No.1661 of 2015 under

Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, praying to pass interim monthly maintenance as set out therein.

The trial Court, after considering the contentions put forth on either side, has directed the respondent therein to pay interim monthly maintenance

of Rs.15,000/- to the first petitioner(wife) and another sum of Rs.10,000/- to the second petitioner (minor daughter) by way of passing the

impugned order and the same is being challenged in the present Civil Miscellaneous Appeal.

The learned counsel appearing for the appellant/respondent has contended to the effect that as per Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955,

there is no provision for granting interim monthly maintenance to children; inspite of lack of provision, the trial Court has awarded a sum of

Rs.10,000/- to the second petitioner(minor daughter). Under the said circumstances, the quantum of interim monthly maintenance awarded by the

trial Court is liable to be modified. Further, the first petitioner (wife) is having sufficient means to maintain herself.

Per contra, the learned counsel appearing for the respondents/petitioners has also contended to the effect that the appellant/respondent has been

working in a Foreign country and further, the second respondent/second petitioner is under the care and custody of the first respondent/first

petitioner. Considering the factual situation of the present case, the trial Court has rightly passed the impugned order and therefore, the same does

not require any interference.

It is true that in Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, there is no specific provision for granting interim monthly maintenance to children.

In the instant case it is an admitted fact that the second respondent/second petitioner (minor daughter) is under the care and custody of the first

respondent/first petitioner.

Considering the fact that in the form of interim monthly maintenance, as per Section 24 of the said Act, no order can be passed in favour of the

second respondent/second petitioner (minor child) and also considering that there is no specific evidence for coming to a conclusion that the first

respondent/first petitioner(wife) is having sufficient means to maintain herself, this Court is inclined to modify the order passed by the trial Court as

stated infra.

In fine, this Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is allowed in part without costs. The interim monthly maintenance awarded to the second

respondent/second petitioner (minor daughter) to the tune of Rs.10,000/- is set aside and the interim monthly maintenance awarded to the first

respondent/first petitioner(wife) is raised to the tune of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand). In other aspects, there is no modification. The

trial Court is directed to dispose of O.P.No.3711 of 2014 before the end of January 2018 and report the same to the Registry without fail.

Connected miscellaneous petition is closed.