RAM KHELAWAN Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a petition in revision by a husband against his wife for the setting aside of an order granting her a maintenance allowance of Rs. 25 per month under Section 488, Criminal P. C. The applicant is an employee in an industrial concern at Kanpur, having an income of Rs. 80 per month. Admittedly, he was married to Smt. Prabhu Devi in the year 1945. A deed of agreement, Ex. P-1, was drawn up at that time by which the applicant undertook that after the marriage he would live with his wife at the house of his father-in-law. It is clear from that agreement that the assurance given was that the wife would never be compelled to go to her husband's place. It may be noted here that she is the only child of her father. For some years the husband and the wife lived amicably and a child was born to them. But estrangement and ill feelings grew up with the result that the husband has now left his father- in-law's place and is living with his brothers. He is giving no money to his wife for her support or for the support of the child. In these circumstances she came up under Section 488, Criminal P. C, for the grant of maintenance allowance for herself and for her child.

(2.) It was contended by the applicant that he was minor at the time of the deed of agreement, EX. P-1, was drawn up and that he is not bound by its terms. It may be stated here that the evidence on the record shows that the applicant was a minor on the date of execution of the deed, EX. P-1. The deed may have thus no legal binding force. Nevertheless, from the evidence on the record it is clear that the parties understood at the time of the marriage that the bride will never be required to go to her husband's place. The applicant's brothers also took part in his marriage and although they are no party to the deed of agreement, it must be held that they also gave the same assurance to Prabhu Devi's father. The learned Magistrate summed up his views in the following words : "From the fact that having secured a permanent job in a Mill through the influence of Pahari, who is in the employment of an European Mill Manager, Ram Khelawan is now independent of his father-in-law and wants to enjoy his income without contributing anything towards his wife and child. Mt. Prabhu Devi, who is a patient most probably of bone T. B. is nervous and if under the circumstances she does not like to live apart from her parents or if her father, out of love for his only daughter, does not want to separate her from him there is lot of justification in these wishes of the daughter and her father. Considering all the circumstances of the case I am of the opinion that if the husband has lost all love for his wife and does not like to live with her in her father's house he should pay her maintenance for herself and for the child out of his income which is Rs. 80."

(3.) Learned counsel for the applicant has con-tended that a wife is not entitled to maintenance allowance if she does not live with her husband. I am unable to agree with this contention. The proviso to Sub-section (3) of Section 488, Criminal P. G. runs as follows : "Provided that, if such person offers to maintain his wife on condition of her living with him, and she refuses to live with him, such Magistrate may consider any grounds of refusal stated by her, and may make an order under this section notwithstanding such offer, if he is satisfied that there is just ground for so doing." Sub-s. (4) of that section further provides: "No wife shall be entitled to receive an allowance from her husband under this section if she is living in adultery, or if, without any sufficient reason, she refused to live with her husband, or if they are living separately by mutual consent. "