HAROON Vs. SAINABHA BEEVI ZEENATH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) First respondent filed M.C. 27 of 1980 before the Judicial Magistrate of the First Class, Ambalapuzha claiming maintenance for her and her son (second respondent). Maintenance was granted and the petitioner was directed to pay monthly allowance of Rs.100/- each to respondents 1 and 2. Contention of the petitioner is that on 9-11-1982 the matter was settled out of Court and the first respondent executed an agreement in favour of the petitioner and a lump sum of Rs.2,500/-was received by her from him. It is submitted that in view of the agreement whereby all the disputes regarding maintenance were permanently settled and all legal proceedings closed, first respondent cannot make any claim for maintenance from the petitioner. Such a contention was raised when respondents 1 and 2 filed application under S.128 Cr.P.C. to execute the order of maintenance granted by the Court.

(2.) Learned counsel for the petitioner contended that the very fact that Crl.M.P. 2769 of 1991 was filed under S.128 Cr.P.C. on 29-6-1991 i.e. approximately 9 years after the date of agreement is by itself sufficient to hold that the first respondent had voluntarily relinquished all her rights in view of the lump sum payment as per the agreement dated 9-11-1982. Learned counsel for the respondents 1 and 2 pointed out that merely because Crl.M.P. 2769 of 1991 was filed long after the agreement it is not possible to come to a conclusion that the right to claim maintenance recognised by the Court below no longer exists. Counsel pointed out that the maintenance awarded under S.125 will continue to remain in force unless and until it is cancelled or varied and so long as that has not been done petitioner cannot advance a case on the strength of the agreement entered into between the petitioner and the first respondent particularly in view of the fact that it is opposed to public policy. There is considerable force in the above contention.

(3.) As the statutory obligation is there on the part of the petitioner to maintain his wife and minor son who are unable to maintain themselves he cannot be permitted to contract out of such an obligation. If he is allowed to do so, it would certainly defeat a legal right recognised by the Court under S.125 of the Cr.P.C. The agreement propounded by the petitioner cannot annihilate the statutory right of respondents 1 and 2 in claiming maintenance under S.125 Cr.P.C. The agreement is certainly opposed to public policy. Obviously the Court cannot enforce an illegal agreement. A waiver in derogation of a statutory right cannot be recognised by the Court as it affects public policy and as it is against the very statutory obligation imposed on a husband to maintain his wife and children who are unable to maintain themselves.