There are multiple proceedings pending as stated above. The wife has filed a maintenance petition under Section 18 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 which is pending before the Additional District Judge at Solan, Himachal Pradesh. Apart from that, there is a complaint filed by her under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 which is also pending in the Court of the Judicial Magistrate at Solan. There is one more case which is a petition under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 filed by the wife which is pending in the Court of the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate at Kasauli, District Solan, Himachal Pradesh. Lastly, there is a criminal case pending in the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan which is on the basis of a First Information Report lodged by the wife for the offences punishable under Section 323, 341 and 498A of Indian Penal Code, 1860. (Para 3)
The consistent view taken by this Court is that normally the convenience of wife is to be seen when the cases arise out of matrimonial dispute. In exceptional cases where the facts are glaring, a departure can be made from this normal rule. (Para 6)
Even if we pass order of transfer, the State will hardly be affected, considering the nature of the criminal proceedings. Therefore, in the facts of the case, we do not agree with the submission that the State is a necessary party. The complainant and accused are before the Court. (Para 10)
Accordingly we pass the following order:
(i) Transfer Petition (C) No.1770 of 2021 is allowed. Accordingly, Divorce Petition No.7 of 2021 titled “Dev Raj Singh Bhati v. Ankita Bhati”, pending before the Family Court, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan is ordered to be transferred to the District Judge, Family Court, Solan, Himachal Pradesh;
(ii) Transfer Petition (Criminal)No.659 of 2019 is allowed. Accordingly, Criminal Case No.393 of 2019 titled “State v. Dev Raj Singh”, pending before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan is ordered to be transferred to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kasauli, district Solan, Himachal Pradesh; (Para 11)
SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT
Citation: 2023 STPL(Web) 83 SC
Ankita Bhati Vs. Dev Raj Singh Bhati
Transfer Petition (Civil) No. 1770 of 2021 with Transfer Petition (Criminal) No. 659 of 2019-Decided on 13-7-2023
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