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IN THE COURT OF THE CIVIL JUDGE (JUNIOR DIVISION):KOTA.
SPSR NELLORE DISTRICT.
PRESENT: SRI. CH.BHARATH KAMAL,
CIVIL JUDGE (JUNIOR DIVISION), KOTA.
Tuesday, the 22 nd Day of April, 2025
OS. No.5 of 2015
Between:
1).Peddapalem Koteswari @ Perunduru Koteswari, W/o Peddapalem Venkatasubbaiah, Aged 25 years, 2). Peddapalem Hemanth (minor represented by her mother natural guardian, the first petitioner S/o Venkatasubbaiah, Aged 5 years, Presently residing at he parents house, Saguturu village, Ozili mandal, SPSR Nellore District. … Plaintiffs
And
Peddapalem Venkata Subbaiah S/o Yedukondalu, aged 32 years, R/o Saguturu village, Ozili Mandal, SPSR Nellore District. … Defendant
This suit came up for final hearing before me on 22-04-2025 in the presence of Sri N. Madhusuhana Rao, learned Counsel for the plaintiffs 1 and 2 and Sri. L. Ramachandra Rao, learned counsel for the defendant and upon hearing the counsel for the plaintiffs and defendant and on perusing the material available on record this Court delivered the following:
J U D G M E N T
This suit is filed by the plaintiffs 1 and 2 for granting of maintenance of Rs.54,000/- per annum (Rs.30,000/- +Rs.24,000/-) to the first plaintiff and second plaintiff respectively and Rs.24,000/- per annum towards
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2 clothing, Utensils from the year 2014 and Rs.24,000/- per annum for their residence and to pay a sum of Rs.97,500/- towards the past maintenance and past residence allowance for both the plaintiffs in the interest of justice.
2. Brief averments of the plaint are as follows:
The plaintiffs submit that the first plaintiff and the defendant are the wife and husband and their marriage was solemnized on 09-03-2008 at Tirupathi
Tirumala Devasthanams Kalyanamandapam, Narasinga Rao Peta, Gudur town,
SPSR Nellore District according to Hindu rites, customs and ceremonies prevailing in their community.
The plaintiffs further submit that at the time of the marriage of the first plaintiff with the defendant, the parents of the 1st plaintiff gave Rs.
1,00,000/- as dowry and presented 10 sovereigns of gold and household articles worth about Rs.50,000/- on demand made by the defendant and his parents. The parents of the 1st plaintiff also presented 1½ sovereigns of gold chain and six grams ring presented to the defendant on the demand of the defendant and his parents. Their marriage was consummated and the 1st plaintiff lead happy married life with the defendant and the 1st plaintiff gave birth to a male child by name Hemanth who is the 2nd plaintiff herein.
The plaintiffs further submit that the defendant looked the 1st plaintiff with love and affection till she gave birth to 2nd plaintiff and there by the defendant demanded her to get registration of lands an extent of Ac 5.50 cents which was purchased by her father's brothers in the year 1998 which is in
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3 peaceful possession and enjoyment of the father of the 1st plaintiff. Then the 1st plaintiff expressed her inability as the said property is her father's own and he already presented sufficiently to the defendant at the time of marriage.
After the birth of second plaintiff, she stayed at her parents house along with her son due to the defendant did not take her and son to the matrimonial house and demanded an amount of Rs.1,00,000/- as additional dowry or lands of her father as additional dowry. As she did not comply the demands of the defendant as her father having another unmarried daughter and son who are depending on her father. So the defendant anger on the plaintiffs and left them in the house of the parents of the 1st plaintiff. There were several mediations took place and the same were proved futile and in each and every mediations the defendant and his parents demanded additional dowry and lands of her father. At last the defendant stolen away lands documents from, the house of the 1st plaintiff's father and the petitioner missing due to harassment made by the defendant as he was frequently visited the house of the plaintiff's father. So she gave report to the Ozili Police on 27.03.2010. So the then Sub-Inspector of police called the defendant and his parents and gave warning to them to look well the plaintiffs and not to demand and returned the land documents of the
Sreenivasulu and they agree for the same. But they did not returned the documents and continued to harass the 1st plaintiff for additional dowry. So both the plaintiffs now are in the house of Sreenivasulu and depending upon them.
The plaintiffs have no means to maintain themselves.
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The Plaintiffs further submit that the defendant having sufficient means to maintain the plaintiffs and he is having immovable properties of agricultural lands to an extent of Ac.8.00 cents and getting income of
Rs.2,00,000/- besides he is doing his black smith work and earning an amount of
Rs.600/- per day, but the defendant wantonly evades looking after welfare of the plaintiffs without any reasonable cause. But the 1 plaintiff's parents bore all expenses of the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs are unable to maintain her and doing any work to earn lively hood and her parents’ can not maintain the plaintiffs so long.
As such, the defendant is having sufficient means to maintain the plaintiffs as he was having sufficient landed properties of his own.
The Plaintiffs submit that the 1st plaintiff claiming future maintenance for a sum of Rs.30,000/- per annum having regard to the present cost of living and the 2nd plaintiff is claiming future maintenance for a sum of
Rs.36,000/- per annum regard to the present cost of living and for medical and educational expenses. The plaintiffs are claiming Rs 24,000/- per annum for residence. The plaintiffs are also claiming past maintenance of Rs. 1500/- per annum to 1st plaintiff and Rs.1,000/- to the 2nd plaintiff from November 2011 to
October 2014 totaling an amount of Rs.87,500/- and also past residential maintenance of Rs.1,000/- per month totaling Rs. 12,000/-. Now the defendant with a dishonest intention to evade maintenance to the plaintiffs the defendant is trying to alienate the plaint schedule property. As such in view of urgency she has no time to issue legal notice to the defendant and the plaintiffs filed this suit for recovery of future and past maintenance, residential maintenance amount
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5 from the defendant who is her husband and father of the 2nd plaintiff. Hence, the suit.
3. The brief averments of the written statement are as follows;-
The defendant made his appearance through his counsel and filed written statement denying the material allegations made against the defendant by the plaintiff and submitted that originally this defendant family hails from
Vajjavaripalem village which is the parent's village of the 1st plaintiff. As the father of the plaintiff is unable to live at Vajjavaripalem they shifted the family to
Saguturu for lively hood. This defendant's father and his brothers had some properties at Chittedu Village. When they had shifted the family the father of the plaintiff was asked to cultivate the land on lease. The father of the plaintiff wants to knock away the property. Hence he asked the 1st plaintiff not to join this defendant. Hence the 1st plaintiff not joined this defendant and started pressing this defendant to stay at Chittedu and see that his father sold the property to her father for which this defendant refused. Hence the 1 plaintiff on her own accord refused to join this defendant. This defendant made several mediations which proved futile. The father of the 1st plaintiff came upon this defendant to bet him in the presence of mediator who is none other than the uncle of this defendant and a cousin brother of Sreenivasulu father of the 1st plaintiff. This defendant is still eager to take the plaintiff and his son to his family fold and live with them happily. It is submitted that the father of the 1st plaintiff never purchased the property from the father of this defendant and his brothers in 1998 and this
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6 defendant never demanded the 1" plaintiff to get registration of lands to him. It is submitted that the father of this defendant and his brothers are real owners of the land and where is the question of demanding the father of the 1st plaintiff to get registration of land in favour of this defendant. This defendant never demanded additional dowry. Even now this defendant is ready to take the plaintiffs to his family fold unconditionally. The story of this defendant stolen away the lands documents is a false story created by the father of the 1st plaintiff and the 1st plaintiff, to knock away the lands belonging to the father of this defendant and his brothers. Here it is submitted that already a suit for specific performance of agreement of sale was filed by the father of the 1st plaintiff creating a forged agreement of sale in O. S. No: 64/2015 on the file of the Hon'ble Senior Civil Judge Court, Gudur and the same is pending for disposal and this defendant and other defendants in the said suit are contesting the said suit and the father of the plaintiff gave a false notice also which was suitably replied. After giving birth to the 2nd plaintiff also the 1st plaintiff joined this defendant and as this defendant refused to shift family to Chittedu and refused to give land to her father, she left the house of this defendant without any information and even leaving the 2nd plaintiff and this defendant intimated the fact to the father of the 1st plaintiff and later on the next day she was found in the house of her father and then she took the child also. Since then, the plaintiffs are living at her parent's house of her own accord without any reasonable cause.
Hence the plaintiffs are not entitled to any maintenance. And the suit is not maintainable and liable to be dismissed.
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4. Basing upon the above pleadings the then Prescribing
Officer framed the following issues for Trial:
1.Whether the defendant harassed the plaintiff and deserted her
wantontly? 2.Whether the plaintiffs are entitled for maintenance?
3.Whether the court fee is sufficient or deficit court fee is to be
paid? 4.Whether the suit is maintainable? 5.To what relief?
5.During the trial, the 1st plaintiff stepped into witness box as PW.1 and got marked and no documents were marked through them. To support her case, father the 1st plaintiff got examined as PW2. On the other hand, the defendant himself got examined as DW1 and to support his version, DW2 and
DW3 were examined. No documents marked on his behalf.
6.I have heard the learned counsel for the plaintiffs and defendant and perused the record.
7. Issues No. 1 & 2:
Issues No.1 & 2 are interlinked, therefore, Issues No.1 & 2 are answered together.
To prove her case, the 1st plaintiff herself entered into the witness box and was examined as PW1. Her chief examination is nothing but a replica of the contents of her plaint, wherein she reiterated the same allegations and reliefs. Hence, to avoid repetition, the same is not reproduced here. In her cross- examination, PW1 admitted that she is living separately from her husband due to a land dispute between her father and the defendant. She stated that she
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8 refused to return to the matrimonial home unless 5.50 acres of land was registered in her father's name. She admitted that the said land is not in her father's name but stands in the name of the defendant’s grandfather, and that a civil suit is pending in relation to the said property.
She denied that she has any source of income or that she is capable of maintaining herself. She also deposed that the defendant has not paid any maintenance to her or her minor son after the separation. However, she did not depose that she was subjected to physical or mental harassment by the defendant in connection with the land dispute or otherwise. No evidence was brought on record to support the allegations of cruelty or dowry harassment mentioned in the plaint. Thus, her cross-examination shows that the real cause for living separately is the land dispute, and not any proven acts of cruelty or neglect at the time of separation.
8.To support the evidence of PW1, her father was examined as PW2.
His chief examination is nothing but a repetition of the version stated in the plaint and by PW1, particularly regarding the marriage, alleged dowry, and the events leading to separation. Hence, to avoid repetition, the same is not reproduced here. In his cross-examination, PW2 admitted that the only reason for separation between the plaintiff and the defendant was the land dispute. He stated that the land in question, measuring 5.50 acres, was not registered in his name, but stood in the name of the defendant’s grandfather. He also admitted that a civil suit for specific performance is pending between the families
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9 regarding the said property. He denied the suggestion that the plaintiff filed this case only to exert pressure over the land matter. He did not depose that the defendant harassed PW1 either mentally or physically. Hence, his evidence does not support PW1’s claim that she was harassed or ill-treated.
However, PW2 also deposed that after the separation, the defendant completely neglected his responsibility towards his minor son. He stated that the child was living with the plaintiff, and that the father neither paid any maintenance nor contributed to the child’s care or education. This part of
PW2’s testimony remained consistent and unshaken in cross-examination.
9.In view of the discussion this court holds that the plaintiff side evidence weakens the claim of harassment or cruelty, but is credible regarding the non-maintenance of the minor child. To rebut the plaintiffs’ case, the defendant entered into the witness box and was examined as DW1, and he further examined DW2 and DW3 in support of his defense.
10.To support his defense, the defendant entered into the witness box and was examined as DW1. In his chief examination, he repeated the contents of his written statement. He stated that the plaintiff left the matrimonial home on her own, and that the real cause of separation was a dispute regarding 5.50 acres of land, which the plaintiff’s family wanted registered in their name. He denied the allegations of dowry demand or cruelty. As the chief is a replica of the written statement, it is not reproduced here to avoid repetition.
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In cross-examination, DW1’s version that the separation occurred due to the land dispute was not challenged, and it is found to be consistent with the admissions made by PW1 and PW2. This supports the defendant’s stand that the wife left voluntarily and not due to any harassment. However, DW1 also admitted in cross-examination that he has never paid maintenance to his wife or minor son, and that he failed to comply with a prior maintenance order in favour of the child. He further admitted that he had no contact with his son, and had not made any efforts to support him financially, emotionally, or otherwise. Though he claimed to be a daily wage worker, he admitted to spending around
Rs.5,00,000/- on legal expenses, which weakens his claim of financial inability.
Thus, while DW1’s evidence supports the defense regarding the wife's unjustified separation, it also reveals willful neglect of the minor child.
11.To further support his version, the defendant examined DW2 and
DW3, who are known to him. The chief examination of both witnesses is in line with the version stated by DW1, namely that the marriage between the plaintiff and defendant was a love marriage, no dowry was given or demanded, and the 1st plaintiff chose to live separately due to a land dispute. As their evidence merely repeats the stand already taken by the defendant in his written statement, the same is not reproduced here to avoid repetition.
In their cross-examinations, both DW2 and DW3 admitted that they had no personal knowledge of the internal disputes between the plaintiff and the
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11 defendant. DW2 admitted that he was illiterate and signed his affidavit without understanding its contents. DW3 admitted that he did not know whether the defendant paid any maintenance to his wife or child.
12.Though the evidence of DW2 and DW3 supports the version of DW1 to the extent that the reason for separation was the land dispute, their depositions also indirectly reveal that the defendant completely neglected his minor son. Both witnesses admitted that they had no knowledge of the defendant ever providing maintenance, and they did not speak to any efforts made by him to support, visit, or care for the child.
Their evidence further confirms that the defendant had no involvement in the upbringing or welfare of the child after separation. This aspect of their testimony remained unshaken in cross-examination. Hence, while
DW2 and DW3 lend support to the defendant’s defense regarding the wife’s separation, their depositions clearly reflects that DW1 failed in his legal and moral duty as a father towards his son.
13.Now it is time to discuss whether the defendant harassed the plaintiff and deserted her wantontly and whether the 1st plaintiff is entitled for maintenance. In the present case, the 1st plaintiff alleged in her plaint that she was harassed for dowry and was not maintained by the defendant. However, during her cross-examination, she clearly admitted that the only reason for living separately was the land dispute between her father and the defendant's family.
She stated that she refused to return to the matrimonial home unless 5.50 acres
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12 of land was registered in her father's name. Her father, examined as PW2, also confirmed that the dispute between the parties arose only in connection with the said land, and that the property was still in the name of the defendant’s grandfather. He further admitted that a civil suit was pending regarding the said property.
It is also not the case of the plaintiff that due to the land dispute, the defendant harassed her either mentally or physically. Nowhere in her chief or cross-examination has she stated that the defendant abused, threatened, or treated her with cruelty as a result of the disagreement. No complaint, medical record, or supporting evidence was filed to show that the land issue led to any form of harassment. Even DW2 and DW3, though not witnesses to the internal dispute, confirmed that the reason for separation was purely the land issue, and that they were not aware of any incidents of cruelty or abuse.
14.In view of the above, this Court finds that the plaintiff voluntarily withdrew from cohabitation due to a civil property dispute, and has not proved any sufficient or justifiable cause under Section 18(2) of the Hindu Adoptions and
Maintenance Act, 1956. The existence of a family land dispute, without any supporting evidence of cruelty, desertion, or neglect at the time of separation, is not enough to entitle the wife to maintenance under law.
15. Whether 2 nd plaintiff (minor son) is entitled for maintenance?
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Under Section 20(1) of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, a Hindu father has a statutory obligation to maintain his legitimate minor child, as long as the child is unable to maintain himself. This obligation is absolute, and it does not depend on whether the father is living with the child’s mother or is separated from her.
In the present case, the 2nd plaintiff is the minor son of the defendant, born during the valid subsistence of marriage. The defendant has not disputed paternity. There is no suggestion or evidence to show that the minor has any source of income or is capable of maintaining himself.
It is undisputed that after separation, PW1 has been solely taking care of the 2nd plaintiff ( minor son )shelter, education, and day-to-day needs, and that the defendant has not paid any amount for his maintenance. During his cross-examination, the defendant admitted that he never paid any maintenance for the minor child, and did not take any interest in his health, education, or welfare. He also admitted that he did not comply with a prior court order passed in favour of the child. In view of these facts, the Court finds that the defendant has willfully neglected his legal duty to maintain his minor son. The child is lawfully entitled to be maintained by his father, and no legal defence has been raised to defeat this entitlement. Therefore, this Court holds that the 2nd plaintiff is entitled to maintenance under Section 20 of the Act, and the defendant is liable to provide for his minor son’s needs in accordance with law. Accordingly, issues No. 1 & 2 are answered.
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16. Issue No.3:
Whether the court fee is sufficient or deficit court fee is to be paid?
During the course of arguments, the learned counsel for the defendant again raised the objection regarding deficit court fee. This Court notes from the record that the defendant had already raised this issue in his written statement and further filed IA No. 248 of 2023 seeking rejection of the plaint for non-payment of proper court fee. In reply, the plaintiff filed a counter and prayed that, if permitted, he would pay the deficit court fee. Accordingly, the Court permitted the plaintiff to pay the deficit court fee.
Despite such permission, the plaintiff did not pay the deficit court fee prior to or during the trial. Even at the stage of final arguments, when the defendant’s counsel reiterated the objection, the plaintiff’s counsel did not respond or take any steps to pay the deficit court fee.
However, considering that the deficit court fee is only Rs.80/- and not a substantial sum, and in order to prevent denial of substantive relief on a mere technicality, this Court directs that the plaintiff shall pay the deficit court fee of Rs.80/- at the time of drafting the decree, so that the relief granted is enforceable in law. Accordingly, Issue No.3 is answered.
17. Issue No.4:
Whether the suit is maintainable?
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The learned counsel for the defendant argued that the present suit is not maintainable, as the 1st plaintiff ought to have filed a suit for declaration of her right to maintenance, rather than a suit for direct recovery. He submitted that the suit, as framed, is procedurally defective and is therefore liable to be dismissed.
However, this Court finds no merit in the said argument. The Hindu
Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, provides a clear and enforceable right to a wife and minor child to claim actual maintenance from the husband or father.
Denying such relief on the ground that only declaratory relief can be sought would defeat the object of the statute and render the right ineffective.
Hence, this Court holds that the suit, as framed, is legally maintainable.
Accordingly, issue No.4 is answered.
Further, this court also considered the relief claimed for creation of charge over the schedule property. In the plaint, the plaintiff sought for a charge over the schedule property for securing the maintenance amount.
However, the plaintiff has not filed any documents or evidence to prove that the schedule property actually belongs to the defendant. No revenue records, title deeds, or any independent evidence regarding ownership were produced, nor were any questions put to the defendant on this point in cross-examination. In these circumstances, the Court is unable to grant the relief of charge over the schedule property at this stage. However, the plaintiff is at liberty to seek
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16 appropriate remedies during execution proceedings, if the decree remains unsatisfied and the defendant is found to own attachable property.
18. Issues No:5: To what relief?
In view of the above said discussions, the suit is partly allowed.
In the result, the suit is partly allowed.
i). The claim of the 1st plaintiff for maintenance is dismissed.
ii).The 2nd plaintiff (minor son) is declared, entitled to maintenance at Rs.5,000/- (Rupees Five Thousand only) per month, payable by the defendant, from the date of suit till the minor attains majority, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
iii).The plaintiff is directed to pay the deficit court fee of Rs.80/-
before preparation of the decree.
iv). The relief of charge over the schedule property is not granted, as no proof of ownership was filed. However, the plaintiff is at liberty to seek appropriate remedies in execution proceedings, in accordance with law.
v).There shall be no order as to costs.
Directly typed to my dictation by the Stenographer Gr.III, corrected and pronounced by me in open court, this the 22nd day of April, 2025.
Civil Judge ( Junior Division),
Kota.
Appendix of evidence
Witnesses examined for
Petitioners: Respondent:
PW.1:Peddapalem Koteswari @ DW.1:P. Venkata Subbaiah Perunuru Koteswari
PW.2:Peruduru SreenivasuluDW.2: Madanambeti Munirathnam
DW.3: Bellam Venkateswarlu Naidu
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Exhibits marked for plaintiff
-NIL-
Exhibits marked for defendant
-Nil-
Civil Judge ( Junior Division),
Kota.