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Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013

REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS PETITION No.19530/2013
IN
SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CRL.) No.8596/2013
Badshah .Petitioner
ers!s
So!.Ur"i#a Badshah $odse % Anr. Res&ondents
J U D M E N T
A.!.SI!RI"J.
'. There is a de#a( o) *+ da(s in )i#in, the &resent S&e-ia# Lea.e Petition
and )!rther de#a( o) '' da(s in re)i##in, S&e-ia# Lea.e Petition. For the
reasons -ontained in the a&&#i-ation )or -ondonation o) de#a(/ the de#a( in
)i#in, and re)i##in, o) SLP is -ondoned.
0. The &etitioner see1s #ea.e to a&&ea# a,ainst the 2!d,"ent and order
dated 03.0.04'+ &assed 5( the Hi,h Co!rt o) J!di-at!re at Bo"5a(/ Ben-h
at A!ran,a5ad in Cri"ina# 6rit Petition No.'77804'0. B( "eans o) the
i"&!,ned order/ the Hi,h Co!rt has !&he#d the a9ard o) "aintenan-e to
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Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
res&ondent No.' at the rate o) Rs.'4448: &er "onth and to res&ondent No.0
;da!,hter< at the rate o) Rs.=448: &er "onth in the a&&#i-ation )i#ed 5( the"
!nder Se-tion '0= o) the Code o) Cri"ina# Pro-ed!re ;Cr.P.C.< 5( the
#earned Tria# Co!rt and a))ir"ed 5( the #earned Additiona# Sessions J!d,e.
Res&ondents herein had )i#ed &ro-eedin,s !nder Se-tion '0=/ Cr.P.C. 5e)ore
J!di-ia# Ma,istrate First C#ass ;JMFC< a##e,in, therein that res&ondent No.'
9as the 9i)e o) the &etitioner herein and res&ondent No.0 9as their
da!,hter/ 9ho 9as 5orn o!t o) the 9ed#o-1.
+. The res&ondents had stated in the &etition that res&ondent No.' 9as
"arried 9ith Po&at Fa&a#e. Ho9e.er/ in the (ear '>>? she ,ot di.or-e )ro"
her )irst h!s5and. A)ter ,ettin, di.or-e )ro" her )irst h!s5and in the (ear
'>>? ti## the (ear 044= she resided at the ho!se o) her &arents. On de"and
o) the &etitioner )or her "arria,e thro!,h "ediators/ she "arried hi" on
'4.0.044= at De.,ad Te"&#e sit!ated at Hi.ar,a.:Pa.sa. Her "arria,e 9as
&er)or"ed 9ith the &etitioner as &er Hind! Rites and -!sto"s. A)ter her
"arria,e/ she resided and -oha5ited 9ith the &etitioner. Initia##( )or +
"onths/ the &etitioner -oha5ited and "aintained her ni-e#(. A)ter a5o!t
three "onths o) her "arria,e 9ith &etitioner/ one #ad( Sho5ha -a"e to the
ho!se o) the &etitioner and -#ai"ed herse#) to 5e his 9i)e. On in@!irin, )ro"
the &etitioner a5o!t the said #ad( Sho5ha/ he re&#ied that i) she 9anted to
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Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
-oha5it 9ith hi"/ she sho!#d reside @!iet#(. Other9ise she 9as )ree to ,o
5a-1 to her &arents ho!se. 6hen Sho5ha -a"e to the ho!se o) &etitioner/
res&ondent No.' 9as a#read( &re,nant )ro" the &etitioner. There)ore/ she
to#erated the i##:treat"ent o) the &etitioner and sta(ed a#on,9ith Sho5ha.
Ho9e.er/ the &etitioner started ,i.in, "enta# and &h(si-a# tort!re to her
!nder the in)#!en-e o) #i@!or. The &etitioner a#so !sed to do!5t that her
9o"5 is 5e,otten )ro" so"e5od( e#se and it sho!#d 5e a5orted. Ho9e.er/
9hen the i##:treat"ent o) the &etitioner 5e-a"e into#era5#e/ she -a"e 5a-1 to
the ho!se o) her &arents. Res&ondent No.0/ Shi.an2a#i/ 9as 5orn on
03.''.044=. On the a)oresaid a.er"ents/ the res&ondents -#ai"ed
"aintenan-e )or the"se#.es.
7. The &etitioner -ontested the &etition 5( )i#in, his 9ritten state"ent.
He dined his re#ation 9ith res&ondent Nos.' and 0 as his 9i)e and da!,hter
res&e-ti.e#(. He a##e,ed that he ne.er entered 9ith an( "atri"onia# a##ian-e
9ith res&ondent No.' on '4.0.044=/ as -#ai"ed 5( res&ondent No.' and in
)a-t res&ondent No.'/ 9ho 9as in the ha5it o) #e.e#in, )a#se a##e,ation/ 9as
tr(in, to 5#a-1"ai# hi". He a#so denied -o:ha5itation 9ith res&ondent No.'
and -#ai"ed that he 9as not the )ather o) res&ondent No.0 either. A--ordin,
to the &etitioner/ he had "arried Sho5ha on '?.0.'>?> and )ro" that
"arria,e he had t9o -hi#dren .iA. one da!,hter a,ed 04 (ears and one son
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Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
a,ed '? (ears and Sho5ha had 5een residin, 9ith hi" e.er sin-e their
"arria,e. There)ore/ res&ondent No.' 9as not and -o!#d not 5e his 9i)e
d!rin, the s!5sisten-e o) his )irst "arria,e and she had )i#ed a )a#se &etition
-#ai"in, her re#ationshi& 9ith hi".
=. E.iden-e 9as #ed 5( 5oth the &arties and a)ter hearin, the ar,!"ents
the #earned JMFC ne,ati.ed the de)en-e o) the &etitioner. In his 2!d,"ent/
the JMFC )or"!#ated )o!r &oints and ,a.e his ans9er thereto as !nderB
'. Does a&&#i-ant no.' Ur"i#a &ro.es that she is a 9i)e
and a&&#i-ant No.0 Shi.an2a#i is da!,hter o) non
a&&#i-antC
Des
0. Does a&&#i-ant No.' Ur"i#a &ro.es that non:
a&&#i-ant has deserted and ne,#e-ted the" to
"aintain the" thro!,h ha.in, s!))i-ient "eansC
Des
+. 6hether a&&#i-ant No.' Ur"i#a and A&&#i-ant No.0
Shi.an2a#i are entit#ed to ,et "aintenan-e )ro" non:
a&&#i-antC
Des
7. I) (es/ at 9hat rateC Rs. '/4448:
&.". to
A&&#i-ant
No. ' and
Rs. =448:
&.". to
A&&#i-ant
No. 0.
*. It is not ne-essar( to dis-!ss the reasons 9hi-h &re.ai#ed 9ith the
#earned JMFC in ,i.in, his )indin,s on Point Nos.' and 0 on the 5asis o)
e.iden-e &rod!-ed 5e)ore the Co!rt. 6e sa( so 5e-a!se o) the reason that
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Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
these )indin,s are !&he#d 5( the #earned Additiona# Sessions J!d,e in his
2!d,"ent 9hi#e dis"issin, the re.ision &etition o) the &etitioner herein as
9e## as the Hi,h Co!rt. These are -on-!rrent )indin,s o) )a-ts 9ith no
5#e"ish or &er.ersit(. It 9as not e.en ar,!ed 5e)ore !s as the ar,!"ent
raised 9as that in an( -ase res&ondent No.' -o!#d not 5e treated as E9i)eF o)
the &etitioner as he 9as a#read( "arried and there)ore &etition !nder Se-tion
'0= o) the Cr.P.C. at her instan-e 9as not "aintaina5#e. Sin-e/ 9e are
&ri"ari#( -on-erned 9ith this iss!e/ 9hi-h is the 5one o) -ontention/ 9e
&ro-eed on the 5asis that the "arria,e 5et9een the &etitioner and res&ondent
No.' 9as so#e"niAedG res&ondent No.' -o:ha5ited 9ith the &etitioner a)ter
the said "arria,eG and res&ondent No.0 is 5e,otten as o!t o) the said -o:
ha5itation/ 9hose 5io#o,i-a# )ather is the &etitioner. Ho9e.er/ it 9o!#d 5e
&ertinent to re-ord that res&ondent No.' had &rod!-ed o.er9he#"in,
e.iden-e/ 9hi-h 9as 5e#ie.ed 5( the #earned JMFC that the "arria,e
5et9een the &arties too1 &#a-e on '4.0.044= at De.,ad Te"&#e. This
e.iden-e in-#!ded &hoto,ra&hs o) "arria,e. Another )indin, o) )a-t 9as
arri.ed at/ na"e#(/ res&ondent No.' 9as a di.or-ee and di.or-e had ta1en
&#a-e in the (ear '>>? 5et9een her and her )irst h!s5and/ 9hi-h )a-t 9as in
the -#ear 1no9#ed,e o) the &etitioner/ 9ho had ad"itted the sa"e e.en in his
-ross:eHa"ination.
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Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
?. The #earned JMFC &ro-eeded on the 5asis that the &etitioner 9as
"arried to Sho5ha and 9as ha.in, t9o -hi#dren o!t o) the 9ed#o-1.
Ho9e.er/ at the ti"e o) so#e"niAin, the "arria,e 9ith res&ondent No.'/ the
&etitioner intentiona##( s!&&ressed this )a-t )ro" her and -o:ha5ited 9ith
res&ondent No.' as his 9i)e.
3. The a)oresaid )a-ts e"er,in, on re-ord 9o!#d re.ea# that at the ti"e
9hen the &etitioner "arried the res&ondent No.'/ he had #i.in, 9i)e and the
said "arria,e 9as sti## s!5sistin,. There)ore/ !nder the &ro.isions o) Hind!
Marria,e A-t/ the &etitioner -o!#d not ha.e "arried se-ond ti"e. At the
sa"e ti"e/ it has a#so -o"e on re-ord that the &etitioner d!&ed res&ondent
No.' 5( not re.ea#in, the )a-t o) his )irst "arria,e and &retendin, that he
9as sin,#e. A)ter this "arria,e 5oth #i.ed to,ether and res&ondent No.0 9as
a#so 5orn )ro" this 9ed#o-1. In s!-h -ir-!"stan-es/ 9hether res&ondents
-o!#d )i#ed a&&#i-ation !nder Se-tion '0= o) the Cr.P.C./ is the iss!e. 6e
9o!#d #i1e to &in &oint that in so )ar as res&ondent No.0 is -on-erned/ 9ho is
&ro.ed to 5e the da!,hter o) the &etitioner/ in no -ase he -an sh!n the
#ia5i#it( and o5#i,ation to &a( "aintenan-e to her. The #earned -o!nse#
.ent!red to dis&!te the #e,a# o5#i,ation @!a res&ondent No.' on#(.
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Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
>. The #earned -o!nse# )or the &etitioner re)erred to the 2!d,"ent o) this
Co!rt in Da"!na5ai Anantrao Adha. .s. Anantrao Shi.ra" Adha( % Anr.
'


In that -ase/ it 9as he#d that a Hind! #ad( 9ho "arried a)ter -o"in, into
)or-e Hind! Marria,e A-t/ 9ith a &erson 9ho had a #i.in, #a9)!##( 9edded
9i)e -annot 5e treated to 5e E#e,a##( 9edded 9i)eF and -onse@!ent#( her
-#ai" )or "aintenan-e !nder Se-tion '0=/ Cr.P.C. is not "aintaina5#e. He
a#so re)erred to #ater 2!d,"ents in the -ase o) Sa.ita5en So"a5ai Bhati(a .s.
State o) $!2arat % Ors.
0
9herein the a)oresaid 2!d,"ent 9as )o##o9ed. On
the stren,th o) these t9o 2!d,"ents/ the #earned -o!nse# ar,!ed that the
eH&ression E9i)eF in Se-tion '0= -annot 5e stret-hed 5e(ond the #e,is#ati.e
intent/ 9hi-h "eans on#( a #e,a##( 9edded:9i)e. He ar,!ed that Se-tion
=;'< ;i< o) the Hind! Marria,e A-t/ '>== -#ear#( &rohi5its 0
nd
"arria,e
d!rin, the s!5sisten-e o) the '
st
"arria,e/ and so res&ondent No.' -annot
-#ai" an( e@!it(G that the eH&#anation -#a!se ;5< to Se-tion '0= Cr.P.C.
"entions the ter" Edi.or-eF as a -ate,or( o) -#ai"ant/ th!s sho9in, that
on#( a #e,a##( 9edded:9i)e -an -#ai" "aintenan-e. He/ th!s/ s!5"itted that
sin-e the &etitioner had &ro.ed that he 9as a#read( "arried to Sho5ha and
the said "arria,e 9as s!5sistin, on the date o) "arria,e 9ith res&ondent
No.'/ this "arria,e 9as
1
(1988) 1 SCC 530
2
(2005) 3 SCC 636

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Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
.oid and res&ondent No.' 9as not #e,a##( 9edded 9i)e and there)ore had no
ri,ht to "o.e a&&#i-ation !nder Se-tion '0= o) the Cr.P.C.
'4. Be)ore 9e dea# 9ith the a)oresaid s!5"ission/ 9e 9o!#d #i1e to re)er
t9o "ore 2!d,"ents o) this Co!rt. First -ase is 1no9n as D9ari1a Prasad
Sat&ath( .s. Bid(!t Pra.a DiHit % Anr.
+
In this -ase it 9as he#dB
EThe .a#idit( o) the "arria,e )or the &!r&ose o)
s!""ar( &ro-eedin, !nder s.'0= Cr.P.C. is to 5e deter"ined on
the 5asis o) the e.iden-e 5ro!,ht on re-ord 5( the &arties. The
standard o) &roo) o) "arria,e in s!-h &ro-eedin, is not as stri-t
as is re@!ired in a tria# o) o))en-e !nder se-tion 7>7 o) the IPC.
I) the -#ai"ant in &ro-eedin,s !nder s.'0= o) the Code s!--eeds
in sho9in, that she and the res&ondent ha.e #i.ed to,ether as
h!s5and and 9i)e/ the -o!rt -an &res!"e that the( are #e,a##(
9edded s&o!se/ and in s!-h a sit!ation/ the &art( 9ho denies
the "arita# stat!s -an re5!t the &res!"&tion. On-e it is ad"itted
that the "arria,e &ro-ed!re 9as )o##o9ed then it is not
ne-essar( to )!rther &ro5e into 9hether the said &ro-ed!re 9as
-o"&#ete as &er the Hind! Rites in the &ro-eedin,s !nder
S.'0=/Cr.P.C. Fro" the e.iden-e 9hi-h is #ed i) the Ma,istrate
is &ri"a )a-ie satis)ied 9ith re,ard to the &er)or"an-e o)
"arria,e in &ro-eedin,s !nder S.'0=/ Cr.P.C. 9hi-h are o)
s!""ar( nat!re stri-t &roo) o) &er)or"an-e o) essentia# rites is
not re@!ired.
It is )!rther he#dB
It is to 5e re"e"5ered that the order &assed in an
a&&#i-ation !nder se-tion '0= Cr.P.C. does not )ina##(
deter"ine the ri,hts and o5#i,ations o) the &arties and the said
se-tion is ena-ted 9ith a .ie9 to &ro.ide s!""ar( re"ed( )or
&ro.idin, "aintenan-e to a 9i)e/ -hi#dren and &arents. For the
&!r&ose o) ,ettin, his ri,hts deter"ined/ the a&&e##ant has a#so
)i#ed Ci.i# S!it 9hi-h is s&endin, 5e)ore the tria# -o!rt. In s!-h
3
(1999) SCC 65
8
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Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
a sit!ation/ this Co!rt in S.Seth!rathina" Pi##ai .s. Bar5ara
a#ias Do##( Seth!rathina"/ ;'>?'< + SCC >0+/ o5ser.ed that
"aintenan-e !nder se-tion 733/ Cr.P.C. '3>3 ;si"i#ar to
Se-tion '0=/ Cr.P.C.< -annot 5e denied 9here there 9as so"e
e.iden-e on 9hi-h -on-#!sion )or ,rant o) "aintenan-e -o!#d
5e rea-hed. It 9as he#d that order &assed !nder Se-tion 733 is a
s!""ar( order 9hi-h does not )ina##( deter"ine the ri,hts and
o5#i,ations o) the &artiesG the de-ision o) the -ri"ina# Co!rt that
there 9as a .a#id "arria,e 5et9een the &arties 9i## not o&erate
as de-isi.e in an( -i.i# &ro-eedin, 5et9een the &arties.F
''. No do!5t/ it is not a -ase o) se-ond "arria,e 5!t dea#s 9ith standard
o) &roo) !nder Se-tion '0=/ Cr.P.C. 5( the a&&#i-ant to &ro.e her "arria,e
9ith the res&ondent and 9as not a -ase o) se-ond "arria,e. Ho9e.er/ at the
sa"e ti"e/ this re)#e-ts the a&&roa-h 9hi-h is to 5e ado&ted 9hi#e
-onsiderin, the -ases o) "aintenan-e !nder Se-tion '0=/Cr.P.C. 9hi-h
&ro-eedin,s are in the nat!re o) s!""ar( &ro-eedin,s.
'0. Se-ond -ase 9hi-h 9e 9o!#d #i1e to re)er is Chan"!ni(a .s. irendra
I!"ar Sin,h I!sh9aha % Anr.
7
The Co!rt has he#d that the ter" E9i)eF
o--!rrin, in Se-tion '0=/ Cr.P.C. is to 5e ,i.en .er( 9ide inter&retation.
This is so stated in the )o##o9in, "annerB
EA 5road and eH&ansi.e inter&retation sho!#d 5e ,i.en to the
ter" E9i)eF to in-#!de e.en those -ases 9here a "an and 9o"an ha.e 5een
#i.in, to,ether as h!s5and and 9i)e )or reasona5#( #on, &eriod o) ti"e/ and
stri-t &roo) o) "arria,e sho!#d not 5e a &re:-ondition )or "aintenan-e !nder
Se-tion '0= o) the Cr.P.C. so as to )!#)i## the tr!e s&irit and essen-e o) the
5ene)i-ia# &ro.ision o) "aintenan-e !nder Se-tion '0=.F
4
(2011) 1 SCC 141
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Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
'+. No do!5t/ in Chan"!ni(a ;s!&ra</ the Di.ision Ben-h o) this Co!rt
too1 the .ie9 that the "atter needs to 5e -onsidered 9ith res&e-t to Se-tion
'0=/Cr.P.C./ 5( #ar,er 5en-h and in &ara 7'/ three @!estions are )or"!#ated
)or deter"ination 5( a #ar,er 5en-h 9hi-h are as )o##o9sB
E'. 6hether the #i.in, to,ether o) a "an and 9o"an as
h!s5and and 9i)e )or a -onsidera5#e &eriod o) ti"e 9o!#d
raise the &res!"&tion o) a .a#id "arria,e 5et9een the"
and 9hether s!-h a &res!"&tion 9o!#d entit#e the 9o"an
to "aintenan-e !nder Se-tion '0=/Cr.P.C.C
0. 6hether stri-t &roo) o) "arria,e is essentia# )or a -#ai"
o) "aintenan-e !nder Se-tion '0=/Cr.P.C. ha.in, re,ard
to the &ro.isions o) the Do"esti- io#en-e A-t/ 044=C
+. 6hether a "arria,e &er)or"ed a--ordin, to the
-!sto"ar( rites and -ere"onies/ 9itho!t stri-t#( )!#)i##in,
the re@!isites o) Se-tion ?;'< o) the Hind! Marria,e A-t/
'>==/ or an( other &ersona# #a9 9o!#d entit#e the 9o"an
to "aintenan-e !nder Se-tion '0=/Cr.P.C.CF
'7. On this 5asis/ it 9as &#eaded 5e)ore !s that this "atter 5e a#so ta,,ed
a#on, 9ith the a)oresaid -ase. Ho9e.er/ in the )a-ts o) the &resent -ase/ 9e
do not dee" it &ro&er to do so as 9e )ind that the .ie9 ta1en 5( the -o!rts
5e#o9 is &er)e-t#( 2!sti)ied. 6e are dea#in, 9ith a sit!ation 9here the
"arria,e 5et9een the &arties has 5een &ro.ed. Ho9e.er/ the &etitioner 9as
a#read( "arried. B!t he d!&ed the res&ondent 5( s!&&ressin, the )a-t!" o)
a##e,ed )irst "arria,e. On these )a-ts/ in o!r o&inion/ he -annot 5e &er"itted
10
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Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
to den( the 5ene)it o) "aintenan-e to the res&ondent/ ta1in, ad.anta,e o) his
o9n 9ron,. O!r reasons )or this -o!rse o) a-tion are stated hereina)ter.
'=. First#(/ in Chan"!ni(a -ase/ the &arties had 5een #i.in, to,ether )or a
#on, ti"e and on that 5asis @!estion arose as to 9hether there 9o!#d 5e a
&res!"&tion o) "arria,e 5et9een the t9o 5e-a!se o) the said reason/ th!s/
,i.in, rise to -#ai" o) "aintenan-e !nder Se-tion '0=/Cr.P.C. 5(
inter&retin, the ter" E9i)eF 9ide#(. The Co!rt has i"&ressed that i) "an
and 9o"an ha.e 5een #i.in, to,ether )or a #on, ti"e e.en 9itho!t a .a#id
"arria,e/ as in that -ase/ ter" o) .a#id "arria,e entit#in, s!-h a 9o"an to
"aintenan-e sho!#d 5e dra9n and a 9o"an in s!-h a -ase sho!#d 5e entit#ed
to "aintain a&&#i-ation !nder Se-tion '0=/Cr.P.C. On the other hand/ in the
&resent -ase/ res&ondent No.' has 5een a5#e to &ro.e/ 5( -o,ent and stron,
e.iden-e/ that the &etitioner and res&ondent No.' had 5een "arried ea-h
other.
'*. Se-ond#(/ as a#read( dis-!ssed a5o.e/ 9hen the "arria,e 5et9een
res&ondent No.' and &etitioner 9as so#e"niAed/ the &etitioner had 1e&t the
res&ondent No.' in dar1 a5o!t her )irst "arria,e. A )a#se re&resentation 9as
,i.en to res&ondent No.' that he 9as sin,#e and 9as -o"&etent to enter into
"artia# tie 9ith res&ondent No.'. In s!-h -ir-!"stan-es/ -an the &etitioner
11
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Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
5e a##o9ed to ta1e ad.anta,e o) his o9n 9ron, and t!rn aro!nd to sa( that
res&ondents are not entit#ed to "aintenan-e 5( )i#in, the &etition !nder
Se-tion '0=/Cr.P.C. as res&ondent No.' is not E#e,a##( 9edded 9i)eF o) the
&etitionerC O!r ans9er is in the ne,ati.e. 6e are o) the .ie9 that at #east
)or the &!r&ose o) Se-tion '0= Cr.P.C./ res&ondent No.' 9o!#d 5e treated as
the 9i)e o) the &etitioner/ ,oin, 5( the s&irit o) the t9o 2!d,"ents 9e ha.e
re&rod!-ed a5o.e. For this reason/ 9e are o) the o&inion that the 2!d,"ents
o) this Co!rt in Adha. and Sa.ita5en -ases 9o!#d a&&#( on#( in those
-ir-!"stan-es 9here a 9o"an "arried a "an 9ith )!## 1no9#ed,e o) the
)irst s!5sistin, "arria,e. In s!-h -ases/ she sho!#d 1no9 that se-ond
"arria,e 9ith s!-h a &erson is i"&er"issi5#e and there is an e"5ar,o !nder
the Hind! Marria,e A-t and there)ore she has to s!))er the -onse@!en-es
thereo). The said 2!d,"ent 9o!#d not a&&#( to those -ases 9here a "an
"arria,es se-ond ti"e 5( 1ee&in, that #ad( in dar1 a5o!t the )irst s!r.i.in,
"arria,e. That is the on#( 9a( t9o sets o) 2!d,"ents -an 5e re-on-i#ed and
har"oniAed.
'?. Third#(/ in s!-h -ases/ &!r&osi.e inter&retation needs to 5e ,i.en to
the &ro.isions o) Se-tion '0=/Cr.P.C. 6hi#e dea#in, 9ith the a&&#i-ation o)
destit!te 9i)e or ha&#ess -hi#dren or &arents !nder this &ro.ision/ the Co!rt
is dea#in, 9ith the "ar,ina#iAed se-tions o) the so-iet(. The &!r&ose is to
12
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Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
a-hie.e Eso-ia# 2!sti-eF 9hi-h is the Constit!tiona# .ision/ enshrined in the
Prea"5#e o) the Constit!tion o) India. Prea"5#e to the Constit!tion o) India
-#ear#( si,na#s that 9e ha.e -hosen the de"o-rati- &ath !nder r!#e o) #a9 to
a-hie.e the ,oa# o) se-!rin, )or a## its -itiAens/ 2!sti-e/ #i5ert(/ e@!a#it( and
)raternit(. It s&e-i)i-a##( hi,h#i,hts a-hie.in, their so-ia# 2!sti-e. There)ore/
it 5e-o"es the 5o!nden d!t( o) the Co!rts to ad.an-e the -a!se o) the so-ia#
2!sti-e. 6hi#e ,i.in, inter&retation to a &arti-!#ar &ro.ision/ the Co!rt is
s!&&osed to 5rid,e the ,a& 5et9een the #a9 and so-iet(.
'3. O) #ate/ in this .er( dire-tion/ it is e"&hasiAed that the Co!rts ha.e to
ado&t di))erent a&&roa-hes in Eso-ia# 2!sti-e ad2!di-ationF/ 9hi-h is a#so
1no9n as Eso-ia# -onteHt ad2!di-ationF as "ere Ead.ersaria# a&&roa-hF "a(
not 5e .er( a&&ro&riate. There are n!"5er o) so-ia# 2!sti-e #e,is#ations
,i.in, s&e-ia# &rote-tion and 5ene)its to .!#nera5#e ,ro!&s in the so-iet(.
Pro). Madha.a Menon des-ri5es it e#o@!ent#(B
EIt is/ there)ore/ res&e-t)!##( s!5"itted that Eso-ia#
-onteHt 2!d,in,F is essentia##( the a&&#i-ation o) e@!a#it(
2!ris&r!den-e as e.o#.ed 5( Par#ia"ent and the S!&re"e Co!rt
in "(riad sit!ations &resented 5e)ore -o!rts 9here !ne@!a#
&arties are &itted in ad.ersaria# &ro-eedin,s and 9here -o!rts
are -a##ed !&on to dis&ense e@!a# 2!sti-e. A&art )ro" the so-ia#:
e-ono"i- ine@!a#ities a--ent!atin, the disa5i#ities o) the &oor
in an !ne@!a# )i,ht/ the ad.ersaria# &ro-ess itse#) o&erates to the
disad.anta,e o) the 9ea1er &art(. In s!-h a sit!ation/ the 2!d,e
has to 5e not on#( sensiti.e to the ine@!a#ities o) &arties
13
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Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
in.o#.ed 5!t a#so &ositi.e#( in-#ined to the 9ea1er &art( i) the
i"5a#an-e 9ere not to res!#t in "is-arria,e o) 2!sti-e. This
res!#t is a-hie.ed 5( 9hat 9e -a## so-ia# -onteHt 2!d,in, or
so-ia# 2!sti-e ad2!di-ation.F
=
'>. Pro.ision o) "aintenan-e 9o!#d de)inite#( )a## in this -ate,or( 9hi-h
ai"s at e"&o9erin, the destit!te and a-hie.in, so-ia# 2!sti-e or e@!a#it( and
di,nit( o) the indi.id!a#. 6hi#e dea#in, 9ith -ases !nder this &ro.ision/
dri)t in the a&&roa-h )ro" Ead.ersaria#F #iti,ation to so-ia# -onteHt
ad2!di-ation is the need o) the ho!r.
04. The #a9 re,!#ates re#ationshi&s 5et9een &eo&#e. It &res-ri5es
&atterns o) 5eha.ior. It re)#e-ts the .a#!es o) so-iet(. The ro#e o) the Co!rt
is to !nderstand the &!r&ose o) #a9 in so-iet( and to he#& the #a9 a-hie.e its
&!r&ose. B!t the #a9 o) a so-iet( is a #i.in, or,anis". It is 5ased on a ,i.en
)a-t!a# and so-ia# rea#it( that is -onstant#( -han,in,. So"eti"es -han,e in
#a9 &re-edes so-ieta# -han,e and is e.en intended to sti"!#ate it. In "ost
-ases/ ho9e.er/ a -han,e in #a9 is the res!#t o) a -han,e in so-ia# rea#it(.
Indeed/ 9hen so-ia# rea#it( -han,es/ the #a9 "!st -han,e too. J!st as
-han,e in so-ia# rea#it( is the #a9 o) #i)e/ res&onsi.eness to -han,e in so-ia#
rea#it( is the #i)e o) the #a9. It -an 5e said that the histor( o) #a9 is the
histor( o) ada&tin, the #a9 to so-iet(Js -han,in, needs. In 5oth
Constit!tiona# and stat!tor( inter&retation/ the Co!rt is s!&&osed to eHer-ise
5
!eli"ere# $ %e& note $##ress on 'Le($l )#*c$tion in Soci$l Conte+t,
14
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Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
dire-tion in deter"inin, the &ro&er re#ationshi& 5et9een the s!52e-ti.e and
o52e-ti.e &!r&ose o) the #a9.
0'. C#$%o&o a-1no9#ed,es in his -#assi-
*
E.no s(ste" o) 2!s s-ri&t!" has 5een a5#e to es-a&e the need
o) itF/ and he e#a5oratesB EIt is tr!e that Codes and Stat!tes do
not render the J!d,e s!&er)#!o!s/ nor his 9or1 &er)!n-tor( and
"e-hani-a#. There are ,a&s to 5e )i##ed. There are hardshi&s
and 9ron,s to 5e "iti,ated i) not a.oided. Inter&retation is
o)ten s&o1en o) as i) it 9ere nothin, 5!t the sear-h and the
dis-o.er( o) a "eanin, 9hi-h/ ho9e.er/ o5s-!re and #atent/
had none the #ess a rea# and as-ertaina5#e &re:eHisten-e in the
#e,is#atorJs "ind. The &ro-ess is/ indeed/ that at ti"es/ 5!t it is
o)ten so"ethin, "ore. The as-ertain"ent o) intention "a( 5e
the #east o) a 2!d,eJs tro!5#es in as-ri5in, "eanin, to a
stat!re.F
Sa(s $#' in his #e-t!re
?

EThe )a-t is that the di))i-!#ties o) so:-a##ed inter&retation
arise 9hen the #e,is#at!re has had no "eanin, at a##G 9hen the
@!estion 9hi-h is raised on the stat!te ne.er o--!rred to itG
9hen 9hat the 2!d,es ha.e to do is/ not to deter"ine that the
#e,is#at!re did "ean on a &oint 9hi-h 9as &resent to its "ind/
5!t to ,!ess 9hat is 9o!#d ha.e intended on a &oint not &resent
to its "ind/ i) the &oint had 5een &resent.F
00. The Co!rt as the inter&reter o) #a9 is s!&&osed to s!&&#( o"issions/
-orre-t !n-ertainties/ and har"oniAe res!#ts 9ith 2!sti-e thro!,h a "ethod o)
)ree de-isionKE#i5re re-her-hL s-einti)i@!eF i.e. E)ree S-ienti)i- resear-hF.
6e are o) the o&inion that there is a non:re5!tta5#e &res!"&tion that the
6
-.e N$t*re of /*#ici$l Process

0ro1 t.e 2oo% '-.e N$t*re $n# So*rces of t.e L$3, 4& /o.n C.i51$n 6r$&
15
Page 16
Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
Le,is#at!re 9hi#e "a1in, a &ro.ision #i1e Se-tion '0= Cr.P.C./ to )!#)i## its
Constit!tiona# d!t( in ,ood )aith/ had a#9a(s intended to ,i.e re#ie) to the
9o"an 5e-o"in, E9i)eF !nder s!-h -ir-!"stan-es.
0+. This a&&roa-h is &arti-!#ar#( needed 9hi#e de-idin, the iss!es re#atin,
to ,ender 2!sti-e. 6e a#read( ha.e eHa"&#es o) eHe"&#ar( e))orts in this
re,ard. Jo!rne( )ro" S(#( B#)o
8
*o S(#+#)# B#)o
9
,!aranteein,
"aintenan-e ri,hts to M!s#i" 9o"en is a -#assi-a# eHa"&#e.
07. In R#,-.(/(#)%$# D#0# 1. R#,-.(2#$3 D#0#
10
/ the ri,ht o)
another 9o"an in a si"i#ar sit!ation 9as !&he#d. Here the Co!rt had
a--e&ted that Hind! "arria,es ha.e -ontin!ed to 5e 5i,a"o!s des&ite the
ena-t"ent o) the Hind! Marria,e A-t in '>==. The Co!rt had -o""ented
that tho!,h s!-h "arria,es are i##e,a# as &er the &ro.isions o) the A-t/ the(
are not Mi""ora#J and hen-e a )inan-ia##( de&endent 9o"an -annot 5e
denied "aintenan-e on this ,ro!nd.
0=. Th!s/ 9hi#e inter&retin, a stat!te the -o!rt "a( not on#( ta1e into
-onsideration the &!r&ose )or 9hi-h the stat!te 9as ena-ted/ 5!t a#so the
"is-hie) it see1s to s!&&ress. It is this "is-hie) r!#e/ )irst &ro&o!nded in
8
7I8 1985 SC 945
9
7I8 2010 SC 305
10
7I8 2005 SC 422
16
Page 17
Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
He(donJs Case
''
9hi-h 5e-a"e the histori-a# so!r-e o) &!r&osi.e
inter&retation. The -o!rt 9o!#d a#so in.o1e the #e,a# "aHi" construction ut
res magis valeat guam pereat, in s!-h -ases i.e. 9here a#ternati.e
-onstr!-tions are &ossi5#e the Co!rt "!st ,i.e e))e-t to that 9hi-h 9i## 5e
res&onsi5#e )or the s"ooth 9or1in, o) the s(ste" )or 9hi-h the stat!te has
5een ena-ted rather than one 9hi-h 9i## &!t a road 5#o-1 in its 9a(. I) the
-hoi-e is 5et9een t9o inter&retations/ the narro9er o) 9hi-h 9o!#d )ai# to
a-hie.e the "ani)est &!r&ose o) the #e,is#ation sho!#d 5e a.oided. 6e
sho!#d a.oid a -onstr!-tion 9hi-h 9o!#d red!-e the #e,is#ation to )!ti#it(
and sho!#d a--e&t the 5o#der -onstr!-tion 5ased on the .ie9 that Par#ia"ent
9o!#d #e,is#ate on#( )or the &!r&ose o) 5rin,in, a5o!t an e))e-ti.e res!#t. I)
this inter&retation is not a--e&ted/ it 9o!#d a"o!nt to ,i.in, a &re"i!" to
the h!s5and )or de)ra!din, the 9i)e. There)ore/ at #east )or the &!r&ose o)
-#ai"in, "aintenan-e !nder Se-tion '0=/ Cr.P.C./ s!-h a 9o"an is to 5e
treated as the #e,a##( 9edded 9i)e.
0*. The &rin-i&#es o) Hind! Persona# La9 ha.e de.e#o&ed in an
e.o#!tionar( 9a( o!t o) -on-ern )or a## those s!52e-t to it so as to "a1e )air
&ro.ision a,ainst destit!tion. The "ani)est &!r&ose is to a-hie.e the so-ia#
o52e-ti.es )or "a1in, 5are "ini"!" &ro.ision to s!stain the "e"5ers o)
11
(1854) 3 Co.8e5.$94
1
Page 18
Crl. Misc. Pet. No. 19530 of 2013 In SLP(Crl)No.8596/2013
re#ati.e#( s"a##er so-ia# ,ro!&s. Its )o!ndation s&rin, is h!"anisti-. In its
o&eration )ie#d a## tho!,h/ it #a(s do9n the &er"issi5#e -ate,ories !nder its
5ene)a-tion/ 9hi-h are so entit#ed either 5e-a!se o) the tenets s!&&orted 5(
-#ear &!5#i- &o#i-( or 5e-a!se o) the need to s!5ser.e the so-ia# and
indi.id!a# "ora#it( "eas!red )or "aintenan-e.
0?. In ta1in, the a)oresaid .ie9/ 9e are a#so en-o!ra,ed 5( the )o##o9in,
o5ser.ations o) this Co!rt in Ca&t.Ra"esh Chander Ia!sha# .s. eena
Ia!sha#
'0
B
The brooding presence of the Constitutional empathy
for the weaker sections like women and children must inform
interpretation if it has to have social relevance. So viewed, it is
possible to be selective in picking out that interpretation out of
two alternatives which advances the cause the cause of the
derelicts.
03. For the a)oresaid reasons/ 9e are not in-#ined to ,rant #ea.e and
dis"iss this &etition.
..444444444J.
5R#)6#)# P$#7#.( D-.#38
44444.4444.J.
5A.!.S37$38
Ne9 De#hi/
O-to5er '3/ 04'+
12
(198) 4 SCC 0
18