SURJIT KAUR Vs. HARMESH PAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Surjit Kaur alias Sito has filed this First Appeal assailing order dated 07.02.2006 passed by learned Additional District Judge, Jalandhar, thereby dismissing application moved by the appellant for setting aside exparte judgment and decree of divorce dated 27.09.1999.

(2.) Respondent Harmesh Pal, who is a police Constable, filed divorce petition under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (in short the Act) against the appellant-wife. Perusal of the divorce petition file reveals that notice thereof was issued to the wife for 10.06.1999. The notice was received back with the report of refusal. The wife was then summoned by publication in Newspaper Daily (Punjabi Edition) namely Chardi Kalan, Patiala, for 04.08.1999. Notice was published in Newspaper and since the wife did not appear, she was proceeded ex-parte on 04.08.1999. After recording ex-parte evidence of the husband (respondent herein), the said divorce petition was decreed vide ex-parte judgment and decree dated 27.09.1999.

(3.) The wife moved application on 31.05.2000 for setting aside the ex-parte judgment and decree of divorce alleging that she was never served with summons in the divorce petition nor she ever refused to accept the summons. The husband had been treating her with cruelty and demanding more dowry and was also levelling allegations of adultery. The wife moved application to Senior Superintendent of Police, Kapurthala in May 1999 for taking action against the husband. However, no action was taken on account of influence of the husband being police official. Again, the wife moved application dated 03.04.2000 to Chief Minister and application to Senior Superintendent of Police, Kapurthala on 24.04.2000. Thereupon, the husband was summoned to Women Police Station, where he produced photocopy of ex-parte judgment and decree dated 27.09.1999 and thereupon, the wife, for the first time, learnt of the divorce petition and decree passed therein, in the first week of May 2000. After obtaining certified copies of judgment and decree, the wife filed this application.