FATIMA BEGUM Vs. AHMAD ALI KHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal from a decree of the High Court of Judicature at Lahore, dated 15 January 1934, which modified and reversed a decree of the Senior Subordinate Judge of Ludhiana, dated 19 March 1928. The appeal arises out of a suit for recovery of a dower. The principal question in issue is whether the respondents, as legal representatives of one Aftab Ali Khan, who is dead, are bound to pay a dower now aggregating Rs. 36,000. The claim involves that Aftab Ali Khan was liable as a surety to pay the dower, and that his liability was transmitted on his dearh to the respondents. The trial Judge held that Aftab Ali Khan was liable to the plaintiff for payment of the dower, and accordingly passed a decree to that effect. The High Court at Lahore, on appeal, held that Aftab Ali Khan was not liable as a surety in respect of the dower. Certain other questions were dealt with in the judgments of both Courts in India, but they are no linger in issue between the parties and need not be further referred to. Against the decree of the High Court so far as it exonerated Aftab Ali Khan and his estate from liability in respect of the dower in question, the present appeal is taken.

(2.) The facts which gave rise to the issue which now falls to be determined by the Board are as follows : On 25 April 1903, Mt. Fatima Begum, the appellant, was married to one Nawab Samiullah Khan, and on that date a deed of marriage contract was drawn up. It was signed inter alia by Samiullah Khan, and by Aftab Ali Khan, his cousin. On 25 April 1923, Nawab Samiullah Khan died. On 12 April 1926 the plaintiff brought the present suit, alleging that Aftab Ali Khan under the deed stood surety for payment of a dower then aggregation Rupees 36, 000. Other parties were also called as defendants, but Aftab Ali Khan alone defended the suit. In the trial Court eight issues were framed by the learned Senior Subordinate Judge, of which only one-namely the sixth- is now material. That issue was in these terms : Did not defendant Aftab Ali Khan stand surety for the payment of the dower?" The learned Judge on 19 March 1928, decided that issue in favour of the plaintiff, and, as already stated, a decree to that effect was accordingly made. From that judgment and decree the present respondents, who are the legal representatioves of Aftab Ali Khan, by this time deceased, appealed to the High Court of Judicature at Lahore, which on 15 January 1934, reversed the decree of the trial Court, in so far as it was directed against Aftab Ali Khan as a surety. Against that decree the plaintiff obtained leave to appeal to His Majesty in Council, and her counsel has now been fully heard. In the result their Lordships are satisfied that the judgment of the High Court was in the above respect well founded and should be affirmed.

(3.) The decision of the question at issue between the parties turns upon the true construction of the marriage contract already referred to. Was Aftan Ali Khan bound under that deed as a surety to pay the dower, or was he not? That is the issue. In determining it their Lordships at once turn to the official translation of the marriage contract, to which alone, they apprehend, they can have regard. It is not a well-drawn deed, but the scheme which it was intended to embody is not obscure. After setting out the factum of the marriage and its celebration, and mentioning that Nawab Samiullah Khan had; accepted his liability to pay Rupees 17,000 as prompt and Rs. 34,000 as deferred dower, the deed provides (1) that, in the unhappy event of "variance' between the parties to the marriage, the husband should pay his wife Rs. 60 per month (2) that Aftab Ali Khan Should. Pay Rs.60 a month, to the wife while the marriage subsisted (3) that one Bi Masitan should transfer Rs.30 of her pension to, the appellant. Then followed a declaration, which is, of the nature of a "summing up" of the proceeding, provisions, and on which alone in India the plaintiff's counsel based her claim. It may, in these circumstances, be desirable to set out at length the terms of this part of this declaration. It is as follows: It is declared that both the aforesaid dowers, that is the prompt and the deffered, are payable in full by the man marrying as all due debts are that he should pay the same without any deductions at the time they fall due, and that the girl married is entitled to recover the same from her husband and the surety.