by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Apr 15, 2025 | Matrimonial Dispute
Wife is concealing her income and salary proof in maintenance case filed under section 125 crpc. She has been living apart from last three years. I came to know from my own sources that she is working in a company at the HR executive (my wife did MBA in human resources) and drawing salary around sixty thousand monthly. In the maintenance case she is claiming fifth thousand per month as interim maintenance from me. I tried to contact that company and requested to furnish her salary slip or appointment letter to produce in the court to prove her monthly income.
But the company has refused to furnish any document relating to its employee. It is against the policy of that company. In this situation I am totally helpless to produce truth before the court when the petitioner has concealed material fact. It is not expected from the petitioner wife to claim alimony and concealing her income and salary proof to the court. I also tried to get her bank statement but failed to get. In this situation it is likely possible that wife will get maintenance whereas she is a guilty party. she is doing all illegal acts to harass me.
Asked from: Uttar Pradesh
In the present scenario, a wife cannot claim maintenance while concealing her income and salary details. In Rajneesh vs. Neha (2020), the Supreme Court directed that in every maintenance case, both parties are required to submit an affidavit disclosing their income, assets, and liabilities. A maintenance case cannot proceed without this affidavit. Since it must be filed on oath, any false information provided may lead to prosecution for the offence of perjury.
If your wife has not submitted this affidavit, you should first request the court to direct her to file an affidavit disclosing her income, assets, and liabilities. If the affidavit has already been filed but she has concealed information regarding her income, you can file an application under Order XI of the Code of Civil Procedure for discovery of documents. You may request your wife to produce her bank statements, appointment letter, income tax returns, and any other relevant documents related to her income. She is legally obligated to furnish these documents under oath.
If the wife is claiming a fixed monthly allowance from the husband in the form of alimony, but her own income exceeds the amount she seeks, the court will likely dismiss her maintenance claim on the ground that she has sufficient means to support herself.
Related: Can wife claim maintenance after divorce on the ground of desertion
by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Apr 14, 2025 | Matrimonial Dispute
Can wife claim maintenance after divorce on the ground of desertion? My wife filed a case under section 125 crpc for the maintenance from me. She has refused to live with me, then I filed a suit for divorce on the ground of desertion. That suit has been decreed, and the court has dissolved our marriage. When the suit has been decided by the family court my wife filed complaint under section 125 crpc. I am a doctor employed in the government hospital. My wife is also a doctor (dentist) but she has not been practicing. She is deliberately not doing any job because she wants maintenance and easy money from me. I am planning to marry, but due to this maintenance case not able to marry again. What to do in this case?
Asked from: Bihar
Your wife possesses a professional degree and has the ability to earn. However, she has not been working in the hope of receiving maintenance. In this situation, the amount of maintenance shall be minimal because it’ll not be determined solely in proportion to your financial status.
In Rajneesh vs. Neha (2020), the Supreme Court held that, when determining the quantum of maintenance, the court is obliged to consider the wife’s earning capacity. The law does not expect an able-bodied and capable person to remain idle.
Can wife claim maintenance after divorce: As far as the right to maintenance after a decree of divorce is concerned, a wife is still entitled to maintenance. In Rohtash Singh v. Ramendri (2000) 3 SCC 180, the Supreme Court ruled that a divorced wife is entitled to maintenance if she does not have sufficient means to maintain herself and remains unmarried.
Although the marital relationship may have ended through a divorce granted by the Family Court under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, the respondent continues to be recognized as a “wife” under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), by virtue of Explanation (b) to sub-section (1), which states:
“(b) ‘wife’ includes a woman who has been divorced by, or has obtained a divorce from, her husband and has not remarried.”
Therefore, you cannot absolve yourself of the duty to maintain your wife even after the decree of divorce. Wife is entitled to maintenance even after divorce.
Related: Wife has refused to live with husband even after decree of restitution of conjugal rights
by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Apr 14, 2025 | Matrimonial Dispute
Wife has refused to live with husband even after decree of restitution of conjugal rights passed by the family court. The wife has been living separately from husband since 2012. I (husband) tried to reconciliate the dispute and in order to do so met with the in-laws at many occasions. But they are not willing to settle the dispute. Wife is very arrogant and has been living with parents. She is only child and handling the business of her father. She has also filed a case under section 125 of the code of criminal procedure for maintenance. I am a teacher in middle school. My parents are very old, and they are dependent upon me.
When I saw that wife is not willing to return her matrimonial home and resume cohabitation with husband, then I filed a civil suit in 2015 for the restitution of conjugal rights. She appeared in that civil suit but did not take active part. The suit has been decreed by the family court in 2021. Wife has the information of the decree of the court but even the decree of the court she refused to live with husband. In the present scenario I am helpless. My wife wants maintenance from me and without it, she has no heed to me. Maintenance case is also reached at the advance stage.
Asked from: Uttar Pradesh
Your wife has no valid reason to live separately. She was aware of the court’s decree, yet she remains unwilling to cohabit with you or fulfill her marital obligations. Her conduct clearly indicates that she has deserted you and is not inclined to resume the marital relationship.
You should file an application under Order 21 Rule 32 of the Code of Civil Procedure for the execution of the decree of restitution of conjugal rights. Execution of the decree is essential in the present circumstances, as it demonstrates that the husband is willing to live with his wife. This will also strengthen your defense in the maintenance case. If you fail to seek execution, the court may grant maintenance to her.
You also have the option to file for divorce on the ground of desertion. Since your wife has refused to live with you even after a decree under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act, you are entitled to seek divorce on that basis.
You may choose either course of action, but do not remain idle. If you do nothing the court will presume in 125 crpc proceeding that you treat decree in RCR suit as a shield to protect from maintenance.
Related: Impotency a ground of divorce
by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Apr 14, 2025 | Criminal Matter
Can I file second complaint under section 223 BNSS after dismissal of first on the same cause of action. I filed a complaint against the seller of the land for committed fraud in the course of execution of sale deed. Seller shown that he is the sole owner of the land because it was devolved to him after his father’s death. When the sale deed was registered in the officer of registrar and I went to get possession of the land, then came to know that the property belongs to the irrigation department. This fact was concealed by him at the time of registration of sale deed.
That complaint was dismissed because the finding of the magistrate that the dispute is pertaining to the civil dispute and no criminal case is made out from the complaint. Later on, I came to know that the said land was already sold to one more person prior to my sale deed. Same thing happened in that case. One more fact I came to know that immediately before the sale deed the seller received a notice from the irrigation department to vacate the land. On breach of that notice a proceeding has been initiated by the department for his eviction from the land.
Asked from: Uttarakhand
You can file a second complaint on the same cause of action after the dismissal of the first one. From the facts, it appears that the accused had the intention to deceive right from the beginning. He has also cheated another person in a similar manner. The seller received a notice from the Irrigation Department to vacate the land, which proves that he was aware that he was an illegal occupant of the property. Since the seller is not the lawful owner of the land, he falsely claimed ownership and induced you to purchase it. These facts clearly establish that the offence of cheating has been committed.
The first complaint was wrongly dismissed by the court. When the Magistrate decided that there were no sufficient grounds to summon the accused, stating the case was civil in nature, he was required to provide you with an opportunity to be heard. That opportunity was not given before the complaint was dismissed. Therefore, you also have the right to file a revision Section 438 BNSS against that order of Magistrate.
The matter is entirely criminal in nature because the accused has committed the offence of cheating. Moreover, additional facts have come to light that were not within your knowledge when the original complaint was filed. Hence, you can file a second complaint, including these new facts, which further support that the accused had the intention to deceive you from the beginning by pretending to be the owner and persuading you to purchase the land. Section 223 does not bar a second complaint on the same cause of action when it is accompanied by new facts that were unknown to the complainant at the time of the first complaint.
Related: Accused falsely implicated in criminal case
by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Apr 14, 2025 | Criminal Matter
Accused falsely implicated in criminal case for abatement of suicide by the father of deceased. It is a case of quarrel. My husband and his employee were in heated exchange of words on the missing shipment which was important for my husband. That shipment was handled by his deceased employee. When my husband received an email that the requisite documents have not been received yet from your end, he made some enquiry about his employee. During that enquiry my husband asked him to produce the bill and receipt of that shipment. He refused to furnish those documents.
Thereafter, my husband called his manager and told him to assign some general work and if possible, send him at the godown. Thereafter, the deceased employee went angry and said that it would be better to die than doing job at the godown. In that reply my husband told then go and die. On the next day he committed suicide, but no suicide note was found from his dead body. Investigation was completed and charge sheet has been filed under section 306 IPC. How to protect my husband.
Asked from: Uttar Pradesh
The facts of the case suggest that the accused had no intention of instigating the deceased to take his own life. There was a quarrel between the accused and the deceased regarding a missing shipment. The shipment was important to the accused, and the deceased failed to produce a receipt to prove its delivery. Following the argument, the accused called his manager and instructed that the deceased be transferred from the office to the godown. In response, the deceased remarked that it would be better to die, to which the accused replied, “Go and die.” The following day, the deceased committed suicide.
The entire incident indicates that the accused did not intend to instigate the deceased to commit suicide or end his life. The conduct of the accused further supports the view that he did not create circumstances that left the deceased with no other option but to commit suicide. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that the accused instigated the deceased to take such an extreme step.
In Ramesh Kumar v. State of Chhattisgarh, (2001) 9 SCC 618, the Supreme Court held that words spoken in a fit of anger or emotion, without the intention that consequences should actually follow, do not amount to instigation.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasized in a series of judgments that to establish an offence under Section 306 IPC, there must be specific abetment as defined under Section 107 IPC, coupled with the intention on the part of the accused to bring about the suicide of the concerned individual. In Madan Mohan Singh v. State of Gujarat, (2010) 8 SCC 628, the Court further held that the intention of the accused to aid, instigate, or abet the deceased in committing suicide is essential to attract liability under Section 306 IPC.
The words “go and die” spoken by the accused do not amount to instigation in any legal sense. Since the deceased committed suicide the next day, he had ample time to reflect and cool down. If the charge sheet contains no direct or indirect evidence that establishes a clear link between the alleged incitement and the suicide, then it is advisable to approach the High Court for the quashing of the charge sheet.
A petition under Section 528 of the BNSS should be filed in the High Court for quashing the charge sheet and the entire proceedings, as the accused has been falsely implicated in criminal case for abatement of suicide.
Related: Legal position on police investigation under Section 202 CrPC
by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Apr 12, 2025 | Blog, Criminal Matter
Legal position on police investigation under Section 202 CrPC. When a complaint is filed under Section 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The Magistrate, after examining the complainant and the witnesses, may postpone the issuance of summons or warrant (process) and refer the case to the police for investigation under Section 202 CrPC.
Legal position on police investigation under Section 202 CrPC
Such an investigation is ordered after the Magistrate has taken cognizance of the offence and has examined the complainant and the witnesses. It is important to note that an investigation under Section 202 is distinct from an investigation under Section 156(3) CrPC. The investigation under Section 202 does not involve the filing of a charge sheet. Instead, the police officer is required to submit a report to the Magistrate under this section.
The purpose of the investigation under Section 202 is to determine whether there are sufficient grounds to proceed against the accused under Section 204 CrPC. Accordingly, the investigating officer must examine witnesses other than those already examined by the Magistrate, particularly those who are acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the alleged offence.
If the investigating officer records only the statement of the accused and fails to examine any independent witnesses, and then submits a report to the Magistrate, any subsequent summoning of the accused based solely on such a report would be illegal. The very act of referring the matter to the police for investigation under Section 202 implies that the Magistrate is not, at that point, satisfied with the sufficiency of the grounds to issue process.
Since cognizance has already been taken, the accused cannot be compelled to be a witness against himself. Therefore, if the police record the accused’s statement and base their report solely on it, and the Magistrate issues process based on that report, it would amount to the Magistrate having considered the statement of the accused—something that is impermissible in law.
In such a scenario, the summoning of the accused is vitiated. The accused may challenge the summoning order by filing a revision. Furthermore, if no independent witnesses have been examined during the investigation under Section 202, it cannot be said that a proper investigation has been conducted. The Magistrate has the authority under Section 203 CrPC to dismiss the complaint if it is found that there is no sufficient ground to proceed.
Hence, in the absence of examination of independent witnesses acquainted with the facts of the case, the Magistrate is bound to consider only the complaint, and the statements of the complainant and his witnesses. The purpose of directing an investigation under Section 202 is to ensure that there is enough material to justify summoning the accused. The examination of the accused alone cannot satisfy this requirement. Therefore, issuance of process based solely on the accused’s statement is illegal, and the summoning order is liable to be quashed.
Also read: Court is not providing copies of statement recorded under Section 164 crpc
by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Apr 11, 2025 | Blog, Matrimonial Dispute
In India, impotency is recognized as a ground for divorce under various religious personal laws, including Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Parsi laws, as well as under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. However, the interpretation and conditions for invoking this ground vary across different statutes.
Impotency a ground of divorce in India
Under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, which is applicable to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs, impotency is addressed in two specific sections. Section 13(1)(ii) provides that divorce can be granted if the respondent has been incurably of unsound mind or suffers from a mental disorder making cohabitation impossible. Section 12(1)(a) specifically addresses impotency by allowing for annulment (declaring a marriage voidable) if either party was physically or mentally incapable of consummating the marriage. Judicial interpretation has emphasized that the impotency must have existed at the time of marriage and must be of a permanent nature.
Under Muslim Personal Law, as governed by the Shariat Application Act, 1937, impotency can also be a ground for divorce. Both Sunni and Shia legal traditions recognize that if the husband is incurably impotent and unable to consummate the marriage, the wife may seek dissolution. This can be done through Faskh-e-Nikah, a procedure where the wife approaches a Qazi (judge). Additionally, under the doctrine of Lian, if the husband falsely denies his impotency, the wife can still pursue divorce. Notably, the law may allow a period known as the Iddat, typically lasting from one to three years, during which the husband can attempt to prove his potency before a final decree is passed.
The Indian Divorce Act, 1869, which governs Christian marriages in India, also acknowledges impotency as a ground for divorce. According to Section 10(1)(iii), a petitioner may seek divorce if the respondent was impotent at the time of marriage or incurably of unsound mind. Courts typically require strong medical evidence to establish incurable impotency in such cases.
Under the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936, Section 32(d) provides that impotency at the time of marriage, if it continues thereafter, is a valid ground for seeking divorce. Like other statutes, the emphasis is on the permanence of the condition.
For marriages conducted under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, which applies to inter-religious or civil marriages, Section 27(1)(a) clearly states that impotency existing at the time of marriage and persisting thereafter can be a valid reason for divorce.
Some key considerations apply across all these laws. Firstly, the impotency must be incurable; temporary or treatable conditions do not meet the legal threshold. Secondly, the burden of proof lies on the petitioner, who must often submit medical evidence to substantiate the claim. Lastly, if impotency develops after the marriage, it typically does not qualify as a ground for divorce under impotency clauses, though it might be considered under other grounds such as cruelty, depending on the circumstances.
In conclusion, impotency is indeed a valid ground for divorce or annulment in India, recognized under various personal laws and the Special Marriage Act. However, the specific legal procedures and requirements vary, making it essential to seek legal counsel based on the applicable religious or civil law framework.
Also read: Khula without consent of husband
by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Apr 10, 2025 | Service Matters
Promotion is denied even after quashing punishment order by the tribunal. The logic of the department is that I will be considered for promotion when the next DPC will be constituted. A specific order is passed by the department in this respect. It means I will be considered for promotion in the next dpc when another batch of officers will be promoted. When the previous departmental promotion committee was formed, a departmental enquiry was pending against me. That enquiry was pending from 1999 and dpc was formed in 2014. The order of the tribunal passed in 2023. Punishment order has been quashed by the tribunal on the basis that I was not involved in the alleged offence and also no opportunity of being heard was provided to me. In this circumstances it is very painful for me to wait for a promotion for an indefinite period.
Asked from: Uttar Pradesh
Your promotion was rejected by the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) because a departmental enquiry was pending against you. In such a situation, your promotion order should have been kept in a sealed cover by adopting sealed cover procedure. This is a valid procedure when promotion is being considered for an officer facing disciplinary proceedings. However, it is not clear from your question whether the DPC had actually placed your promotion order in a sealed cover.
The quashing of the punishment itself grants the employee the right to be promoted from the date when their juniors were promoted. This principle applies to your case. The department’s decision to wait until the next DPC is convened is patently erroneous.
Given these circumstances, you should challenge the department’s order by filing a claim petition before the services tribunal. In G. Muthuraj v. State of Tamil Nadu, (2013) 11 SCC 648, the Supreme Court held:
Therefore, once the order of punishment was quashed by the learned Single Judge, the appellant automatically became entitled to be considered for promotion with effect from the date persons junior to him were promoted to the post of Executive Engineer.
Based on this judgment, you are entitled to be promoted from the date the DPC issued promotion orders in 2014. Your promotion was denied on the ground of a pending departmental enquiry. However, once the punishment order was quashed and you were exonerated by the tribunal, you became automatically entitled to promotion from the date your juniors were promoted.
You should file another claim petition seeking the quashing of the department’s order and requesting promotion effective from 2014. The decision of the department thereby your promotion is denied even after quashing punishment order will be set aside by the tribunal.
Also read: Second ACP is not granted because an enquiry is pending
by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Apr 5, 2025 | Blog, Service Matters
Notional promotion in Indian Service Law serves as a retrospective remedy for employees who were unjustly denied timely promotions, functioning primarily to rectify past injustices without providing actual financial benefits for the period in question. Its core purpose is to correct seniority discrepancies and ensure accurate pension calculations, particularly in cases of administrative errors, court-ordered rectifications, post-retirement settlements, and seniority disputes. While employees do not receive back wages, notional promotion allows for the recalculation of pension and retirement benefits based on the higher grade they should have attained.
Legal foundations for this concept are rooted in Fundamental Rules (FR 22 & 25) and bolstered by judicial precedents, such as the Supreme Court’s rulings in Union of India vs. K.V. Jankiraman and State of Kerala vs. E.K. Bhaskaran Pillai, which clarify its application and the absence of monetary entitlements unless explicitly specified. Essentially, notional promotion acts as a legal mechanism to restore fairness in career progression and pension rights without immediate financial gain.
Union of India vs. K.V. Jankiraman (1991) 4 SCC 109
The Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in Union of India vs. K.V. Jankiraman (1991) established crucial guidelines regarding delayed promotions due to pending disciplinary inquiries, effectively preventing the arbitrary withholding of promotions. The Court ruled that mere pendency of inquiries should not indefinitely bar promotions, and employees later exonerated are entitled to notional promotion from their original due date, albeit without arrears of salary. Actual promotion occurs post-exoneration, with seniority fixed retrospectively.
Also read: Promotion is denied even after quashing punishment order
This judgment balanced employee rights with administrative discipline, clarifying that notional promotion serves to correct seniority and pension rights, not to provide back wages unless the inquiry was proven malicious. The ruling’s impact is evident in subsequent DoPT guidelines and its application in cases like State of Punjab vs. Bakshish Singh and Union of India vs. K.G. Soni, cementing its status as a pivotal precedent in Indian service law.
Also read: Efficiency Bar
by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Apr 5, 2025 | Blog, Service Matters
Increment: In Indian service law, particularly for government employees, an increment represents a periodic increase in salary within a pay scale, acting as a financial reward for continued service, contingent upon satisfactory performance and adherence to service rules. These increments, primarily annual, stagnation, or efficiency bar-related, are governed by Fundamental Rules (FR), Central Civil Services (CCS) Rules, and State Service Rules. An annual increment, typically automatic, can be withheld due to inefficiency or disciplinary actions, while a stagnation it addresses situations where employees reach the maximum of their pay scale without promotion.
The efficiency bar increment is specifically withheld if an employee fails to meet performance standards. The withholding of increments can occur as a penalty under Rule 11 of CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965, due to inefficiency as measured by the efficiency bar, or for administrative reasons such as prolonged absence. Judicial interpretations emphasize that increments are conditional benefits, not absolute rights, and their withholding must be justified and not arbitrary.
Recent changes, notably from the 7th Pay Commission, have standardized annual increases to 3% of basic pay, with fixed increment dates. Essentially, an enhancement in salary is a crucial component of employee compensation, subject to performance-based evaluations and legal safeguards against unjust denial.
Also read: Notional promotion
