INTRODUCTION
In today’s legally advanced society, every human being has the right to enjoy his or her rights purely on the grounds of being human which is provided by the rule of law. At the very outset, the right of any human being is based on mankind’s increasing demand for a civilised society. Despite the presence of many rights and laws to protect them, the reality is far from this truth, thereare provisions but to avail the same one has to suffer many hardships too .Women, children and elderly people are the most affected by this.
Though women, children and elderly people are considered to be most delicate and in much need of protection, these are in fact in the ones whose rights are being encroached everyday, everywhere in the world and their protection must be sought with paramount importance. The notion of ‘maintenance’ in India is covered both under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Section 125) as well as the personal laws. This idea further gets its roots from Article 15(3) reinforced by Article 39 of the Constitution of India, 1950 (the ‘Constitution’).
In Indian law, the term ‘maintenance’ includes an right to food, clothing and shelter, being available to the wife, children and parents. It is a part of social justice and the natural duty of a man to maintain his wife, children and parents, when they are unable to maintain themselves. The phenomenon of maintenance is to prevent immorality and destitution and ameliorate the weak economic condition of women and children.
OBJECT OF SECTION 125
The procedures under these sections are not punishing in nature. The motive isn’t to rebuff an individual for disregard to keep up those whom he will undoubtedly keep up however to forestall vagrancy by upholding obligation by method of synopsis strategy to give an expedient solution for the individuals who are in trouble.
This is a common arrangement as it doesn’t make any differentiation between people having a place with various religions or stations and it has no relationship with individual laws of the gatherings. In Mohd Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum, the SC held that that the provisions of section 125 applies to all .
The rights of a destitute wives or a minor claiming preservation on this chapter and the treatments furnished are essentially civil right. The apex court defined section 125 of the code of criminal procedure, 1973 as a measure of social justice and specially enacted to protect women and children falls within the constitutional sweep of article 15(3) and reinforced by article 39.
The primary target is to forestall vagrancy by method of technique to give a rapid solution for the individuals who are in torment. The object of the provision being to prevent vagrancy and destitution, it has been found by us that what is really required by the wife is to maintaina way of life which is neither sumptuous nor penurious, yet is unassumingly predictable with the status of the family.
PURPOSE OF SECTION 125
The purpose of enacting section 125 of the code is not recognized or created as a right as such in favour of a wife. It is intended to ameliorate social problem which concerns destitution or vagrancy. “The primary object of the section is to prevent starvation and vagrancy of person and enable a discarded wife and a helpless child to get the much needed and urgent relief in one or the other form that is convenient to them’’.
ENTITLED PERSONS WHO CAN CLAIM AND GET MAINTENANCE
Section 125 of Cr.P.C deals with order of maintenance of wives, children and parents. Under The Cr.P.C., the following can claim and get maintenance.
1. Wife from her husband.
2. Legitimate or illegitimate minor child from his father.
3. His legitimate or illegitimate child (not being a married daughter) who has attained majority, where such child is by reason of any physical or mental abnormality or injury unable to maintain itself.
4. His father or mother from his son or daughter.
ESSENTIAL CONDITION FOR INVOKING SECTION 125
The right of a wife for maintenance is not an absolute right under the section 125 Cr.P.C, the very same is circumscribed by the fact that she is unable tokeep up herself and further the spouse having adequate methods ignored or wouldn’t look after her.
No doubt, there is a clear distinction between the locus standing or competence to file a petition for maintenance under section 125 of the code by any of the person illustrated in the section and there being entitled on merits to particular amounts of maintenance there under.
However the premise for both is essentially the existence or otherwise of their separate income or means of support besides other factors stipulated under this section. Legitimacy of the marriage with the end goal of outline continuing under segment 125 Cr.P.C is to be resolved based on the proof welcomed on record by the parties.
The standard of proof in the marriage in such proceedings is not as strict as is required in the trial of offence under section 494 IPC. If the claimant in the proceeding under section 125 of the code succeed in showing that she and the respondent have lived together as husband and wife, the court can presume that they are legally wedded spouses, and in such a situation, the party who denies the marital status can revert the presumption.
That the contention is not proved by leading necessary evidence. Once it is admitted that the marriage procedure was followed then it is not necessary to further probe into whether the set procedure was complete as per the Hindu rights in. the proceeding under section 125Crpc.
WIFE
A woman is considered as the “wife” only if her marriage with the man is legally valid. The Kerala High court in- MambekkattuNANU v. VAS- ANTHA observed that it only on the strength of extended definition of the expression “wife” occurring in explanation (b) to section 125 of the code, that she is entitled to claim maintenance as a divorced wife.
In the case of CHANMU- NIYAV.VIRENDRA SINGH, the Supreme court has de- fined “wife” and includes even those cases where a man and woman have been living together as husband and wife for a reasonably long period of time, strict proof of marriage should not be the precondition of maintenance under section 125 of Cr. P.C.
In the case of SIRAJ- MOHMEDKHAN JANMO- HAMADKHAN V. HAFI- ZUNNISA YASINKHAN, the Supreme Court held that maintenance can be al- lowed to the wife when her husband is impotent.
A wife can guarantee and get upkeep from her better half in the accompanying conditions.
A wife cannot claim and get maintenance from her hus- band in the following condi- tions.
LIVE-IN RELATIONSHIP
Domestic relationship in the nature of marriage.
I n t h e c a s e of D. VELUSWAMY V. D.PATCHAIAMMAL, the Supreme Court observed that for a relationship in the nature of marriage-
a. The couple must hold themselves out to society as being akin to spouses.
b. They should be of legal age to marry.
LEGITIMATE OR ILLEGITIMATE MINOR CHILD
Male and female kids, independent of whether they are brought into the world inside or outside the legitimately substantial marriage of the dad and mother can guarantee Maintenance.
SON
‘Minor’ means a person who, under the provision of section 3 of the Indian Majority Act 1875 is deemed not to attained his majority I.E above the age of 18 years. Minor son (legitimate or illegitimate is entitled to get maintenance under section125 of Cr.P.C.
DAUGHTER
If minor daughter (legitimate or Illegitimate ) is unmarried, then she is entitled to get maintenance from her father and if she is married, then she is also entitled to get maintenance from her father but the Magistrate has to be satisfied that her husband has not essential and sufficient means for the maintenance of his minor wife.
In the case of SHAHBUDDIN V. STATE OF UP a minor daughter attaining majority during pendency of the application for maintenance was held entitled to maintenance up to the date of majority.
MOTHER AND FATHER
Both the mother and the dad, regardless of whether normal or assenting, can guarantee upkeep from any at least one of their youngsters. Girls are additionally obligated to pay support to their mom and father. A stage mother can guarantee support just in the event that she is widow and doesn’t have characteristic conceived girls or children.
In the case of PANDURANG BHAURAO PABHADE V. BABURAO DABHADE, Bombay High court has held that the father or mother can claim maintenance under section 125(1)(d) if he or she is unable to maintain himself or herself. But it is also important that if parents claim maintenance to their children, children must have sufficient mean to maintain their parents and yet neglects or refuse to maintain the father or mother.
SECTION 126 PROCEDURE: PERSONAL PRESENCE
Section 126(2) of the code provides as to under what circumstances the evidence can be recorded when the non-applicant is not personally present. With the permission of the court, the personal presence (including recording of evidence) of the court will proceed in the presence of with in sub section (2) of section 126 of the code shows to some extent that the non-applicant is bound to remain present on every hearing of the case (unless his presence is dispensed with) and it is this which may go to show that the proceeding under section 125 of the code to some extent, are of quasi-judicial nature.
It has been held in ARUN KUMAR V. CHANDAN BAI, that if the non-applicant is absent, but his counsel is present, evidence can be recorded in the presence of the counsel. Such recording of the evidence is quite legal.
JURISDICTION
In a proceeding under section 126 of the code of Court has jurisdiction to entertain the application where the applicant resides. The question regarding the jurisdiction of the Court to entertain the petition of the wife and daughter for maintenance in KUMUTHAN V. KAMNAPPAZ it was held that the husband was living within the jurisdiction of the court Trichy, the court at Trichy had jurisdiction to entertain the maintenance petition.
The Supreme Court observed that the court below have failed to take note of the provisions contained 126 of Cr.P.C. Under the said section it is permissible for proceeding under section 125 to be taken against a person in any district:
a. Where he is, or
b. Where he or his wife re- sides, or
c. Where he last resided with his wife or mother of an illegitimate child.
: Proof to be taken within the sight of an individual against whom support is to be requested.
: If an individual is readily keeping away from summons, at that point ex-parte proof is taken all things considered.
Also, recently Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Rajnesh V. Neha, 2020 SCC Online SC 903 The bench of Justice Indu Malhotra and R. Subhash Reddy, JJ has framed guidelines on the issue of maintenance of wife, covering overlapping jurisdiction under different enactments for payment of maintenance, payment of Interim Maintenance, the criteria for determining the quantum of maintenance, the date from which maintenance is to be awarded, and enforcement of orders of maintenance.
The directions came in a case which revealed that the application for interim maintenance un- der Section 125 Cr.P.C. has remained pending before the Courts for seven years now, and there have been difficulties encountered in the enforcement of orders passed by the Courts, as the wife was constrained to move successive applications for enforcement from time to time.
WILFUL NEGLECT OF COURT: EX PARTE ORDER CAN BE PASSED
Under section 126 of the code the Magistrate is empowered to proceed to hear and determine the application under section 125 of the code, ex parte if he is satisfied that the person against whom the maintenance order is proposed to be made is wilfully avoiding service count of change in circumstance of pay, and consequently paying or receiving maintenance and party is entitled to move an application for alteration of the order of maintenance where there is such a change of circum- stances.
However, rise in the cost of living is certainly a change in circumstances and changes must be in circumstances themselves and not on proof already exist- ing circumstances themselves and not on proof of already existing circum- stances on record.
CONCLUSION
It is apparent from the ongoing Judicial decisions that the Indian courts have been dynamically liberal in choosing cases relating to support.
The bone of conflict any- way is whether a mistress can get qualified for get up- keep just from the factum of living with a wedded man, combined with the contest concerning whether the bigamy is lawfully al- lowable. While it shows up from the choices went under the individual laws that the equivalent might be conceiv- able, legal choices relating to Section 125 keep on main- taining the view that upkeep can be asserted uniquely by a legitimately married spouse.
It can be concluded that the need for protection for the rights of women and children and elderly people must undergo a revolutionary transition if we desire to live in a safe and secure world and seeking it should become one of our chief pursuits. Chapter 9 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is essential for the protection of the rights of the divorced wife and children and aged parents. It is made to protect them from unusual livelihood.
Maintenance is the duty of everyone who has sufficient means for the same, and our statues, as well as procedural laws, provides enough and clear cut measures that could be opted by the aggrieved to get maintenance.
Shivanshu Oswami is an Advocate at Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench).