BENOY SASI Vs. L.LIJI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner challenges the order in IA.No.2/2020 in O.P.No.723/2006 on the files of the Family Court, Thiruvananthapuram. By virtue of the impugned order, petitioner's application for permission to adduce his evidence through video conferencing was rejected.

(2.) O.P.No.723/2006 was filed by the wife in a matrimonial relationship seeking recovery of money, gold ornaments and also for maintenance from the husband. The husband is the original petitioner before us. An ex parte order was passed on 27.03.2014 against which an appeal was filed by the husband. The appeal was withdrawn with liberty to move the Family Court. IA.No.3031/2015 was filed which was dismissed against which Mat.Appeal No.1168 of 2017 was filed. The said appeal was allowed and the ex parte order was set aside. Thereafter, petitioner was directed to appear for evidence on 02.03.2020. When the case was taken up for evidence on 02.03.2020 before the Family Court, the husband was not present and due to his absence, the Family Court recorded his evidence as closed.

(3.) Thereafter, two applications were filed by the husband as IA.No.1 of 2020 for re-opening of evidence and IA.No.2 of 2020 for permission to adduce evidence of the husband through video conferencing.