Usha @ Ramalakshmi and Meenakshisundari vs P. Shanmugam

S. Manikumar, J.—The petitioner, who is the wife of the respondent and her minor daughter have filed Tr.C.M.P. No. 138 of 2006 praying

for withdrawal and transfer of the proceedings in M.C. No. 3 of 2005 pending on the file of Family Court, Coimbatore to the file of Judicial

Magistrate Court, Tuticorin as per the amendment ordered by this Court in C.M.P. No. 8322 of 2006 on 07.07.2006. In Tr.C.M.P. No. 139 of

2006, the petitioner prays for withdrawal and transfer of H.M.O.P. No. 588 of 2004 from the file of Family Court, Coimbatore to the file of Sub

Court, Tuticorin.

The facts of the case leading to the Transfer Petitions are as follows:

(i) The marriage between the petitioner and the respondent was solemnized on 01.05.2000 at Tirunelveli as per Hindu rites and customs and a

daughter, by name, Meenakshisundari was born to them on 20.05.2002. Their marital life was happy only for one year. The parents of the

petitioner presented her 25 sovereigns of gold jewels and house hold articles, worth Rs. 1,00,000/-. The respondent is a drunkard, addicted to

gambling and started demanding dowry from the petitioner''s parents. He did not take care of the petitioner and her minor child and even the basic

amenities were not provided by him. The petitioner suffered physical and mental cruelty at the hands of the respondent.

(ii) The petitioner''s father, a Government servant retired on 31.01.2001 and the respondent with an ulterior motive of extracting the retirement

benefits, lured him to come and stay at Coimbatore. The respondent borrowed a sum of Rs. 5,00,000/- from the petitioner''s father. The

respondent sold a house to the petitioner''s father for a sum of Rs. 1,50,000/- and he promised to pay the balance amount of Rs. 3,50,000/- to

him with interest. But, the respondent failed to pay the said amount and started harassing the petitioner cruelly and said that the balance amount

should be adjusted towards dowry. The petitioner also suffered harassment at the hands of the respondent''s parents and his sister. Due to ill-

treatment and demand of dowry, the petitioner was constrained to prefer a police complaint before All Women Police Station, Coimbatore.

(iii) The respondent appeared for an enquiry, admitted the atrocities and cruelty caused to the petitioner and promised to settle the matter

amicably. The jewels of the petitioner was received by the respondent and pledged in a bank. The petitioner and her minor daughter were living in

Coimbatore with the meagre pension received by her father, who retired as a Tahsildar. Since the respondent was totally negligent to the petitioner

and her minor daughter and failed to provide even the basic amenities to them, though he was earning more than Rs. 25,000/- per month, the

petitioner was constrained to file M.C. No. 3 of 2005 before the Family Court, Coimbatore, claiming maintenance of Rs. 5000/- per month, each.

In the maintenance petition, the respondent has entered appearance and had filed the counter affidavit.

As a counter blast to the petitioner''s complaint, the respondent filed a petition for divorce in H.M.O.P. No. 588 of 2004 before the Family Court,

Coimbatore. The petitioner has entered appearance and is contesting the petition.

(iV) The petitioner''s mother expired on 15.02.2006 and within a short span of time, her father also expired on 20.02.2006 due to heart-attack.

The respondent was residing very close to the house of the petitioner and she was under constant threat by him. After the death of her parents,

since she had no relatives at Coimbatore, she came to live in her Uncles house at Tuticorin and since then, the petitioner and her daughter are

under the care and custody of her Uncle. The petitioner has no means of livelihood and is unable to maintain herself and her child, aged about four

years and her brother, who has just completed his Diploma in Engineering is still unemployed. Whereas, the respondent is earning more than Rs.

25,000/- per month.

Explaining her financial constraint, difficulty in attending the Court at Coimbatore without the assistance of a male member, the long distance

travel of about 500 kms between the place of boarding and the Court, in which the matrimonial disputes are pending and the constant threat faced

by her at the hands of the respondent, the petitioner has preferred the above Transfer Petitions.

The respondent has filed a common counter affidavit in both the transfer petitions, contending inter alia and denied all the averments made in the

transfer petitions. According to him, the marriage was solemnized at Tirunelveli and a daughter was born to them on 20.05.2002 and the petitioner

was always rude and in the habit of harassing him. The respondent, unable to bear the humiliation caused by her was constrained to institute the

proceedings in H.M.O.P. No. 588 of 2004 before the Family Court, Coimbatore.

The respondent has further contended that after the institution of the petition for divorce, as a counter-blast, the petitioner has chosen to initiate

maintenance proceedings in M.C. No. 3 of 2005, before the Family Court, Coimbatore. In H.M.O.P. No. 588 of 2004, counter has been filed,

issues have been framed and trial had already commenced. The chief examination of the respondent was over. The respondent has filed proof

affidavit on 05.10.2005 and at the instance of the petitioner, the matter has been adjourned for cross-examination and the case was posted for

hearing on 03.05.2006. The petitioner has chosen to file Transfer Petitions before this Court on vexatious grounds. The respondent has further

contended that because of the conduct of the petitioner, the respondents father committed suicide on 09.08.2004. The petition for divorce has

almost reached the stage of final hearing and only to protract the proceedings, the petitioner has come forward with the above transfer petitions.

The respondent has also denied the financial incapacity pleaded by the petitioner and alleged suppression of material facts. The respondent

contended that the averments made in H.M.O.P. 588/2004 may be read as part and parcel of his counter affidavit and prayed for dismissal of

both the Transfer C.M.Ps.

Learned Counsel for petitioners has submitted the following grounds for transfer of the proceedings:

(i) There is a constant threat by the respondent in Coimbatore, where the proceedings have been instituted, which forced the petitioner to shift her

residence from Coimbatore to Tuticorin, where she has taken shelter in her Uncle''s residence.

(ii) The distance between Tuticorin and Coimbatore is about 500 kms. Since her daughter is of tender age and there is no male member to

accompany her to Coimbatore on every hearing date, it is impossible for her to go to Coimbatore to defend her case and also to prosecute for

maintenance.

(iii) She has no means of livelihood for herself and her child and therefore she has filed the maintenance petition before the Family Court,

Coimbatore. Her brother is also unemployed.

(iv) She has no relatives at Coimbatore and it would be impossible for her to stay alone with her daughter, who is just four years old. The expenses

towards boarding and travelling for attending the Court at Coimbatore on each occasion will be around Rs. 1000/-.

For the grounds stated supra, the petitioner has prayed for transfer of both the proceedings to a competent court at Tuticorin.

In support of his contentions, learned Counsel for the petitioner has placed reliance on the following decisions of the Honourable Supreme

Court, reported in (i) 2005 12 SCC 387 (Neelima Rani @ Neelima Rani Palakonda v. Srikanth), (ii) 2005 (12) SCC 381 (Smitha Sen v. Sujit

Kumar), (iii) 2005 (12) SCC 237 (Rajani Kishore Pardeshi v. Kishor Babulal Pardeshi).

Per contra, learned Counsel for the respondent raised a preliminary objection that the Sub Court at Tuticorin is not competent to hear cases

relating to matrimonial disputes, as it lacks territorial jurisdiction. This point has not been raised in the counter affidavit filed by the respondent. He

further contended that the petitioner​s brother is working in Coimbatore and that the petitioner can stay in Coimbatore and attend the cases,

pending on the file of Family Court, Coimbatore. Finally, the respondent offered to bear the expenses, to be incurred by the petitioner towards

travelling, boarding, etc. As the proceedings in H.M.O.P. No. 588 of 2004 has already reached a final stage, where the respondent has filed his

proof affidavit on 05.10.2005, what remains is only the cross-examination of the respondent and therefore, at this juncture, the prayer for transfer

is liable to be rejected.

When the matter was posted for clarification on 22.08.2006 at 2.00 p.m., learned Counsel for the respondent submitted the following

authorities in support of his contention relating to competency of Court:

(i) 1985 Karnataka 149 Ritz Hotels Mysore Ltd., v. State of Karnataka and Ors.;

(ii) Lakshmi Narain Vs. First Additional District Judge, Allahabad, ;

(iii) Syndicate Bank Vs. K. Gangadhar and others, .;

(iv) Smt. Jeewanti Pandey Vs. Kishan Chandra Pandey, ;

(v) Arjun Singhal Vs. Pushpa Karwal, ;

(vi) K. Radha Krishnan Nayyar Vs. Smt. Radha, ;

(vii) Dinabandhu Patro and Others Vs. State Bank of India and Others, .

Learned Counsel for the respondent submitted that the Sub Court at Tuticorin has no territorial jurisdiction to try the cases relating to matrimonial

disputes, in view of the provisions contained u/s 19 of the Hindu Marriage Act.

Learned Counsel for the petitioner brought to the notice of this Court that Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 has been amended by Act 50 of 2003, in

and by which, an insertion has been made to Section 19 of the said Act. In case, the wife is the petitioner, application u/s 19 of Hindu Marriage

Act can be filed by her in the place where she is residing on the date of filing the petition. The amendment came into effect from 23.12.2003. He

also submitted a Full Bench judgment of High court reported in P. Madhavan Unni Vs. M. Jayapandia Nadar, and contended that the sub court at

Tuticorin has got jurisdiction. This case deals with the power of the court to transfer execution proceedings and the Court has held that the words

''competent to try"" refer only to pecuniary competency and not territorial competency of the transferee court.

I have gone through the pleadings made in the Transfer Petitions and the averments contained in H.M.O.P. No. 588 of 2004 and M.C. No. 3

of 2005. Serious allegations have been made against each other in the proceedings. Though the plea of territorial jurisdiction has not been raised in

the common counter affidavit filed by the respondent, since an issue has been raised during the course of hearing, this Court deems fit to decide the

preliminary issue of objection relating to territorial jurisdiction.

Admittedly, the marriage was solemnized at Tirunelveli in the year 2000 and after two years, the couple had shifted their residence to

Coimbatore. During their stay at Coimbatore, there was an allegation of harassment of dowry, physical assault and there were calamities in both

the families. Both the proceedings initiated by the parties against each other were within the jurisdiction of the Courts, where the parties last resided

together. The question to be decided is as to whether this Court in exercise of its power u/s 24 C.P.C. can transfer the above said proceedings to

any competent Court in Tuticorin.

(i) In Ritz Hotels (Mysore) Ltd. Vs. State of Karnataka and Others, , where appeals were pending before two Appellate Authorities under

Karnataka Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1974 transfer of one appeal to the other Court was ordered. The court

held that ""while transferring a proceeding from one authority, court or Tribunal either in exercise of the power under Article 227 of the Constitution

of India or u/s 24 C.P.C., it has to be seen if the transferee authority, etc., was competent to dispose of the matter transferred to it. ''Competence''

only means ''competence to try or decide'' the subject matter involved in a case, suit, proceeding or appeal and it has no reference to the territorial

jurisdiction.

(ii) Again on the question of competence, the respondent relied on a judgment reported in Lakshmi Narain Vs. First Additional District Judge,

Allahabad, . In this case, the learned Chief Justice passed orders in chambers u/s 24(1)(a) of the Code of Civil Procedure, on his own motion,

without notice to the parties, taking into consideration of the amendments made to the various statutes enabling the District Courts to entertain first

appeals upto a valuation of ten thousand rupees. The matters pertain to valuation of suits or Appeals and the competence of the transferee court.

The Apex court was pleased to hold that Section 24 C.P.C., postulates that the court to which the Suit or appeal or other proceeding is

transferred should be competent to try or dispose of the same. This judgement is not applicable to the facts of the case on hand.

(iii) In Syndicate Bank Vs. K. Gangadhar and others, , the issue that came up for consideration was, where a suit for enforcement of mortgage by

sale of immovable properties, i.e., suit directly governed by Section 16(c) was filed in the Court in whose territorial jurisdiction the mortgaged

properties were situated and that suit was transferred by the High Court to a Court with no territorial jurisdiction over the properties, the plaintiff

was entitled to seek on making out a case for retransfer, retransfer of the case to the Court in which the Suit was originally filed.

In this case, in view of the above said provision limiting the institution of suits relating to the mortgaged properties, the court held that the expression

''Competent to try or dispose of the same'' meant that it should have in addition to pecuniary jurisdiction, territorial jurisdiction over the subject-

matter of the property also.

(iv) In Smt. Jeewanti Pandey Vs. Kishan Chandra Pandey, , while considering the meaning of ''residence'', the Supreme Court was pleased to hold

that ''in order to give jurisdiction on the ground of ''residence'', something more than a temporary stay is required. It must be more or less of a

permanent character, and of such a nature that the Court in which the resident is sued, is his natural forum. The word ''reside'' is by no means free

from all ambiguity and is capable of a variety of meanings according to the circumstances to which it is made applicable and the context in which it

is found. It is capable of being understood in its ordinary sense of having one''s own dwelling permanently, as well as in its extended sense. In its

ordinary sense ''residence'' is more or less of a permanent character. The expression ''resides'' means to make an abode for a considerable time, to

dwell permanently or for a length of time, to have a settled abode for a time. It is the place where a person has a fixed home or abode. Where

there is such fixed home or such abode at the place the person cannot be said to reside at any other place where he had gone on a casual or

temporary visit, e.g., for health or business or for a change. If a person lives with his wife and children, in an established home, his legal and actual

place of residence is the same. If a person has no established home and is compelled to live in hostels, boarding houses or houses of others, his

actual and physical habitation is the place where he actually or personally resides.

In this case, the question adjudicated was regarding place of filing the matrimonial proceedings. The power of the Court u/s 24 C.P.C. to transfer

the application filed u/s 19 of Hindu Marriage Act has not been considered. The only question considered was regarding the jurisdiction of initiation

of the proceedings.

(v) Again in Arjun Singhal Vs. Pushpa Karwal, , where the marriage between the parties was solemnized and respondent wife was residing within

the municipal limit at Jabalbur, husband preferred a transfer petition on the grounds that he was residing outside the municipal limits of Jabalbur. On

a reference, in view of the provisions contained in Section 19 of the Hindu marriage Act, relating to the court in which the matrimonial disputes

have be instituted, the court held that it was not a case covered under Clause (iv) of Section 19 of the Hindu marriage Act.

(vi) In K. Radha Krishnan Nayyar Vs. Smt. Radha, , the following issues were considered by the Court:

(a) What is the scope of Section 21 of the Act so far as the persons who were not subject to the State Act at the time of their marriage are

concerned ?

(b) Whether the persons whose marriages have been solemnized under the Central Act ?

(c) Whether the persons who were governed by the State Act at the time of their marriage can get a relief in any other court in the country under

the provisions of the Central Act?

Dealing with the provisions of the State Act, namely, Hindu Marriage Act, J & K (VIII of 1955) the Court has held as follows:

The persons who were governed by the State Act at the time of marriage and whose marriage was solemnized within the State of Jammu and

Kashmir, can get a relief only in the State and not in any other court in the country under the Central Act unless both the parties have settled and

have become domicile of a place to which the State Act is not applicable but the Central Act applies. In that case, the provisions of Sub-S. (iv) of

S. 21 of the State Act and Sub-Section (iv) of Section 19 of the Central Act would not apply. For the purpose of attracting the provisions of Sub-

Section (iv) and the applicability of the Central and the State Acts, the place of solemnization of the marriage, is important and relevant. In the

instant case the marriage of the parties was solemnized at Madras, a place where the State Act is not applicable. Therefore the filing of petition for

divorce by husband in State of Jammu and Kashmir would not be proper in view of Section 21(iv). This judgement has been rendered considering

the provisions contained in the special Act, viz. State Act VIII of 1955 and the same is not applicable to the present case.

(vii) In Biswanath Sahu and Others Vs. Mrs. Tribeni Mohan (died) by L.Rs. and Others, , the bank instituted the suit for recovery of loan amount

from the borrower. All the transactions relating to the loan took place in whose jurisdiction the suit was instituted. The mortgaged property was

also situated within the jurisdiction of the same Court. There was no pleading in the petition for transfer to indicate as to how the interests of

petitioner therein would be served best by transfer of the suit to the place where the transfer was sought for. The transfer sought for was declined

both on the grounds pecuniary and territorial jurisdiction.

The power of the High Court to transfer the proceedings initiated under Hindu Marriage Act in Family Court, to any other Court of competent

jurisdiction has came up for consideration before various Court.

(i) In M. Gomathi Vs. S. Natarajan, , this Court in paragraph 4 has held as follows:

Neither Section 19 nor Section 21 limit the jurisdiction to that which is provided u/s 19. Therefore Section 19 and 21 cannot be construed as

excluding the operation of the Civil P.C. I am fortified in this view by the wording of the Code which prohibits the limiting or otherwise affecting the

jurisdiction conferred by the special enactment and does not bar conferment of an extended jurisdiction by the application of the Civil P.C. The

language of Section 19 or Section 21 of the Hindu Marriage Act does not exclude the application of the Civil P.C.

(ii) In Hariram Dhalumal Karamchandani Vs. Jasoti, , the marriage was solemnized before the partition of India at Karachi. The parties separated

in Karachi. After partition, the parties came to India separately. The husband was employed in Delhi and the wife at Nagpur. The husband applied

u/s 19 for divorce in the Nagpur Court. Neither was the marriage solemnized within the jurisdiction of the Court no did the husband and wife

reside or last resided together within the jurisdiction of the Nagpur Court. In the circumstances the Court held as follows:

Where the provision as to jurisdiction specifically contained in Section 19 of the Hindu Marriage Act viz., the place of solemnization of marriage or

place of residence of husband and wife, either separately or together within the jurisdiction of the Court is impossible of satisfaction. In my opinion,

the provisions of Section 20 C.P.C. are sufficient to create jurisdiction in the ordinary Civil Court at a place where either the defendant resides or

the cause of action is said to arise.

(iii) In C.S. Shyamala Vs. C.S. Srikantaiah, , in paragraphs 6 and 7, the Court held as follows:

Under Section 24 of the C.P.C. power is conferred on this Court on an application of any of the parties and after notice to them and after hearing

such of them as desired to be heard, or of its own motion without such notice, the High Court or the District Court may at any stage transfer any

suit, appeal or other proceedings pending before it for trial or disposal to any Court subordinate to it and competent to try or dispose of the same.

The power that is vested in the High Court u/s 24 of the C.P.C. is comprehensive and discretionary. The very fact that the High Court could on its

own motion without notice, could withdraw any suit or appeal or other proceeding pending in any Court subordinate to it and transfer the same,

speaks of wide powers which are vested in the High Court u/s 24 of C.P.C.

In the result, the Suit instituted on the file of Family Court, Tumkur was transferred to the Family Court, Bangalore.

(iv) Dealing with the question, as to whether the proceedings pending on the file of Family Court can be transferred u/s 24 to any competent Civil

Court, subordinate to the High Court, this Court in K.R. Srinathi Vs. H. Ramakrishnan, , after considering the provisions of the CPC and that of

the Family Court has held as follows:

Section 24 of the Code as extracted above specifies the general power of transfer of withdrawal of any suit, appeal or other proceeding of the

High Court and the District circumstances contemplated therein. This provision is nothing but the reflection of exhaustive judicial power to transfer

suit etc., and no Court to another unless both the Courts are subordinate to it. Before and application under this section can be granted, it is implicit

that two conditions should be satisfied, viz., (1) proceedings to be transferred should be subordinate to the High Court or the District Court and

competent to try and dispose of the same. The two phraseologies, viz., (1) any Court subordinate to it, and (2) competent to try or dispose of the

same are of signal importance and the meaning to be ascribed to those phraseologies would determine the amplitude and the extent of power of

transfer vested in the High Court and the District Court under this section. The Court concerned is ''competent when it can as regards the nature

and subject matter of the case and as regards its pecuniary value, entertain a transferred suit, but it does not include ''Competence'' from the point

of view of territorial jurisdiction.

The above said sub-section is moulded in such an express and explicit way as to indicate in unmistakable terms the territorial exclusion of civil

Courts in relation to an area where a Family Court had been constituted in respect of the subject matters arrayed under Clauses (a) to (g) under

the Explanation appended to Sub-section (1) of Section 7 of the Act. The exclusion contemplated therein is not as if one excluding the total

territorial jurisdiction of the Civil Courts situate in other parts of the State so as to make it not possible for the High Court to exercise the general

power of transfer as contemplated u/s 24 of the Code. Moreover, the Family Court is a Civil Court subordinate to the High Court. In the absence

of any special provisions contained in the Act regarding the transfer of proceedings pending before Family Court prohibiting the exercise of power

of transfer by the High Court u/s 24 of the Code, when the other concerned Civil Courts available in other parts of the State where no Family

Court had been established, are competent to try the subject matter of disputes to be fought in Family Court, it goes without saying that the powers

of transfer as contemplated u/s 24 of the Code can, by no stretch of imagination, be held to have been whittled or taken away by the provisions of

Section 8 of the Act.

(v) In Munna Lal Vs. State of U.P. and another, , a Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court has considered as to whether the case pending on

the file of the Family Court can be transferred to another Court, by exercising all the powers under Sections 22 to 24 of C.P.C. and u/s 407 of

Cr.P.C. In paragraphs 5 and 6, the Court has held as follows:

Family Court, as such, is a substitute of a civil court in respect of the matters referred to in the explanation to Sub-section (1) of Section 7 of the

Act and has been declared to be a district court or the subordinate civil court, as the case may be. When exercising powers under Chapter IX of

the Cr.P.C. Family Court is a substitute of a Magistrate Ist Class and exercises all the powers, which are exercisable by those Magistrates. By

Section 10 of the Act, C.P.C. has been made applicable to matters dealt with in the explanation to Sub-section (1) of Section 7 of the Act and

Family Court when dealing with these matters, has been declared to be a civil court. Likewise, Code of Criminal Procedure has been made

applicable to proceedings under Chapter IX of the Cr.P.C.

Family Court, when exercising powers and jurisdiction relating to the matters referred to in explanation to Sub-section (1) of Section 7 of the Act

is a civil court, and as such, High Court has the jurisdiction to transfer the cases from one Family Court to another under Sections 22, 23 and 24 of

the C.P.C. Similarly, when Family Court is exercising the powers and jurisdiction under Chapter IX of the Cr.P.C,, it is a criminal court equivalent

to the Magistrate Ist Class and High Court will have the powers to transfer the case from one Family Court to another u/s 407 of the Cr.P.C.

The judgments cited by the learned Counsel for the respondent have no direct relation to the question to be adjudicated in this case. On the

other hand, this Honble Court as well as other courts have considered the scope and extent of the power of the High Court u/s 24 C.P.C. The

Courts dealing with the above issue have consistently held that the power of transfer of the High Court cannot be whittled down or taken away as

the matrimonial proceedings are initiated only in the Courts subordinate to High Court or in the Family Court, as the case may be. There is no

provision in the Hindu Marriage Act or the special enactment, namely, Family Court Act, ousting the jurisdiction of Section 24 C.P.C., when a

case is sought to be transferred from one District to another of the same State, the High Court has got ample powers to transfer the same and

exercise all its powers u/s 24 of C.P.C. Similarly when a transfer is sought for from one State to another, the Supreme Court exercises its power

u/s 25 of C.P.C. The sub court, at Tuticorin is a subordinate court to High court and as such the High Court has got ample powers and jurisdiction

to transfer the proceedings from the Family Court to a subordinate court. Therefore the contention of the respondent regarding competency of the

Court is liable to be rejected.

If the contention of the respondent has to be accepted, then the power of the High Court u/s 24 of CPC will be crippled in so far as the

matrimonial jurisdiction is concerned.

The decisions cited by the learned Counsel for the petitioner are considered with reference to the present case. In 2005 12 SCC 387

(Neelima Rani @ Neelima Rani Palakonda v. Srikanth), in which the petitioner''s wife was unemployed and that she had no source of income and

that there was no male member to accompany her to prosecute the case at Chennai. The respondent was contesting the matrimonial case from

United Kingdom and he had to come down to Warangal, where the proceedings for divorce was originally initiated. Considering the plight of the

petitioner therein, the Honourable Supreme Court has ordered transfer of divorce petition in O.P. No. 884 of 2004 from the file of Family Court,

Warangal District, Andhra Pradesh to the file of Family Court, Chennai.

In 2005 (12) SCC 381 (Smitha Sen v. Sujit Kumar), the petitioners wife had to shift her residence from Patina to Delhi. She was having a small

child, aged about 1= years and that she had no independent source of income to meet out her traveling expenses, lodging, etc. She was living with

her father in Patna. Therefore, she filed an application of transfer O.P. from the file of Family Court, Bihar to the file of District Judge, Delhi. The

Apex Court has considered that there are justifiable reasons to transfer the petition and accordingly transfer was ordered.

In 2005 (12) SCC 237 (Rajani Kishore Pardeshi v. Kishor Babulal Pardeshi), the Hon''ble Supreme Court has decided that the convenience of

the wife has to be preferred over the convenience of the husband.

Some of the decisions rendered by the Apex Court, in the matter of deciding transfer of matrimonial disputes well certainly give a broad idea of the

factors to be taken into consideration.

In Mona Aresh Goel Vs. Aresh Satya Goel, , when the wife pleaded that she was unable to bear the traveling expenses and even to travel

alone and stay at Bombay, the Supreme Court ordered transfer of proceedings.

In Geeta Heera v. Harish Chander Heera, (2000) 10 SCC 304 , the Honourable Supreme Court has held that where the petitioners wife has

pleaded lack of money, the same has to be considered.

In Lalita A. Ranga Vs. Ajay Champalal Ranga, , the wife has filed a petition to transfer the proceedings initiated by the husband for divorce, at

Bombay. The place of residence of the wife was at Jaipur, Rajasthan. In that case, the petitioner is having a small child and that she pleaded

difficulty in going all the way from Jaipur to Bombay to contest the proceedings from time to time. Considering the distance and the difficulties

faced by the wife, the Supreme Court has allowed the transfer petition.

In a decision reported in 2005 (12) SCC 395, the wife has sought for transfer of matrimonial proceedings and a divorce petition has been filed by

the respondent''s husband at Baikunthpur to be transferred to Allahabad, where the petitioner''s wife was residing, on the ground that it would be

difficult for her to undertake such long distance journey, particularly in circumstances, in which she finds that the proceedings u/s 125 Cr.P.C. was

already pending before the Family Court, Allahabad. Considering the difficulties faced by the wife and also the long distance journey, the

Honourable Supreme Court was pleased to order transfer of the proceedings to Allahabad.

In 2001 AIHC 1567, this Court while dealing with cases relating to matrimonial disputes, set out certain guidelines which would be useful in

dealing with matters regarding transfer of divorce or maintenance petitions. The guidelines are extracted hereunder:

(a) If the woman has the custody of any child, born out of wedlock, less than five years of age,

(b) If anyone of the spouse suffers due to any physical disability; or any chronic illness as would render him or her difficult to travel which should be

duly certified by a Surgeon/physician in Government Service.

(c) Where the respondent in Transfer Petition does not have objection to the transfer or where the respondent in the Transfer Petition also resides

in the same place;

(d) Where the joint trial of proceedings pending in two places are sought for, it would be decided on the basis of the date of filing the petition and

the petition filed subsequently will be transferred to the place where the earlier petition had been filed;

(e) Last place of residence should be a permanent place or if temporary, for an indefinite period of residence and not a place where the living was

only casual or transitory.

(f) Where there is positive evidence such as police complaint, etc. at the husbands place, prima facie establishing that the wife had been subjected

to physical torture or dowry harassment.

(g) If none of the aforementioned nor any other justifiable reason is available for transfer, then the person seeking transfer should be ready to pay

the incidental expenses, like traveling expenses, for stay during the hearing to the other spouse, either a consolidated amount or fixed amount for

each hearing should be paid during the previous hearing itself.

This case has been decided on a overall view of the petitions filed by either spouses. The guidelines are only illustrative situations aimed at frivolous

petitions filed against each parties. This Court while dealing with cases relating to matrimonial disputes proposes to consider the merits of this case.

One of the guidelines in the decision reported in 2001 AIHC 1567 is that, (i) if there is a positive evidence, such as police complaint at the

husband''s place, prima facie establishing that the wife has been subjected to physical torture of dowry harassment, (ii) if the woman has the

custody of any child, born out of wedlock, less than five years of age, the said factors have to be borne in mind while considering the case for

transfer. In all the decisions rendered by the Hon''ble Supreme Court and High Courts, the physical and financial difficulties faced by the wife have

been insisted to be considered while deciding transfer applications.

In the instant case, the petitioner has pleaded that there has been dowry harassment at the hands of the respondent and her in-laws, for which

she has preferred a complaint at Coimbatore. The parents of the petitioner faced death in a quick succession within a short span of one week and

that she has got a minor daughter, aged about four years and that she seems to have no relatives in Coimbatore. Hence, she was constrained to

shift her residence to Tuticorin and take shelter in her Uncle''s house. The distance between Tuticorin and Coimbatore is about 500 kms and it may

not be possible for her to go to Coimbatore for attending the proceedings pending on the file of Family Court, Coimbatore, every time.

The contention of the respondent that he is ready to bear the expenses towards traveling, boarding, and lodging is not accepted by the petitioner,

for the grounds stated supra. In this context, it is worthwhile to consider the decision the Supreme Court.

In Archana Singh Vs. Alok Pratap Singh, , where there was an offer by the respondent husband to pay travelling expenses to the petitioner

wife, the Apex Court held that it is not adequate recompense the difficulties, which the petitioner wife would have to face, more so, when she has a

small child to look after and hence ordered transfer of the proceedings.

In view of the amendment to Section 19 of the Hindu Marriage Act, the contention of the respondent that the sub-court at Tuticorin has no

jurisdiction is also rejected.

Taking into consideration the broad guidelines set out by this Court as well as by the Apex Court, I am of the opinion that the petitioner has

made out the case for transfer to a competent Court, subordinate to High Court. Though in Tr.CMP No. 138/06 the petitioner has sought for

transfer of M.C. No. 3 of 2005 pending on the file of Family Court, Coimbatore to learned judicial Magistrate Tuticorin, I am not inclined to grant

the relief, as it would be amounting to changing the nature of the proceedings.

Since both the proceedings relate to same parties, it is desirable to transfer both the proceedings to one Court, so that the disputes can be

once in for all adjudicated, which would also avoid multiplicity of proceedings in two different forums. The pleadings and the materials furnished are

considered only for the purpose of deciding the transfer petitions and it should not be construed as a finding. It is open to the parties to let in

evidence.

In view of the above, H.M.O.P. No. 588 of 2004 and M.C. No. 3 of 2005 pending on the file of Family Court, Coimbatore are ordered to be

transferred to Sub-Court, Tuticorin. The learned Subordinate Judge is directed to dispose of the proceedings within a period of three months from

the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Consequently, connected C.M.P Nos. 6824 and 6825 of 2006 are closed. No costs.

When the order was pronounced, learned Counsel for petitioner made a request that time may be fixed for the disposal of the matrimonial

proceedings. Learned Subordinate Judge is directed to dispose of the proceedings within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a

copy of this order.