Saturday, 15 June 2013

Wife is entitled to half share in money received by Husband by selling matrimonial house


IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
APPELLATE CIVIL JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 146 OF 2013
IN
WRIT PETITION NO. 3682 OF 2012
Mrs. Tripti Manish Sahni  ...Petitioner
Vs.
Manish Gobindram Sahni  ...Respondent


CORAM : MRS. ROSHAN DALVI, J.
          
                     Date of Pronouncing the Judgment: 20th March, 2013
JUDGMENT: 
Rule.  Made returnable forthwith.
1. The   writ   petition   arises   out   of   an   order   of   the   Judge,
Family Court No.7, Mumbai dated 23rd  August, 2011 rejecting
the application of the petitioner wife and another application of
the   respondent   husband   in   respect   of   the   sale   of   their
matrimonial home and the EMIs to be paid for the loans taken in
respect thereof. 
2. The   parties   were   married   in   1997.     They   have   two
children.  There have been disputes between them resulting in
their  separation and  the consequent petition in  respect of  the
matrimonial  home initially  filed  by  the wife in  Family Court,
Mumbai.  

3. The matrimonial home is flat No.703 in a building called
Usha Garden.  The flat was purchased in the joint names of the
husband  and  his mother  on  6th  April,  2006.   After  the  basic
payment was made, loan  from Citibank was  obtained  by  the
purchasers.   EMIs towards that loan were   not paid.   Citibank
threatened action under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of
Financial   Asset   Enformcement   of   Security   Interest   Act,   2002
(Securitisation Act).  

4. The wife applied to direct the husband to pay the EMIs to
protect the flat which was their matrimonial home. The husband
by his reply applied to sell off the flat. The Court considered it
improper to allow the husband  to sell off  the flat.   The Court
observed if that was allowed, the wife and children would have
no  premises   for  residence  and  “they  would  come  on  roads”.
However the Court did not direct the husband to pay the EMIs
also.  Hence both the applications came to be rejected under the
order dated 23rd August, 2011 impugned in the petition.  
5. It is interesting that the application of the husband for sale
was stated to be with the consent of his mother because he was
in financial crises and the flat was the joint property of the son
and mother.  The husband offered to sell the flat to pay­off the
bank loan and utilise  the  remaining  amount  for purchasing a
new flat and offered to deposit that amount in the Court.   It is
interesting   to   set   out   the   precise   words   of   the   husband's
application in the Family Court in paragraph 10 of his affidavit
which is his assurance­cum­statement.
“10.  I say that upon the sale/disposal of the said flat, there
will be no change in  the nature of  the petitioner and my
daughters as they will continue to stay together with me now
in a temporary rented accommodation and later move into
the flat which  I shall purchase out of  the balance amount
from the sale proceeds.  The petitioner and both daughters
shall move with me in the alternate accommodation by way
of purchase of a new flat and/or a flat taken on leave and
license whereby the petitioner will not be dispossessed of her
matrimonial home.  I say that there will only be a change in
the address of our residence.  I say that such action be just

and necessary when there is no other alternative left for me.
11.  I  say  that  the  petitioner is deliberately  portraying  a
false   picture   about   me   and   my   mother   who   are   the
respondents herein, merely to set her convenience and attract
sympathy of the Hon'ble Court.”
4. The   learned   Judge   had   however   rejected   both   the
applications and hence this writ petition came to be filed.  
5. The flat is now sold.  The bank is paid­off.  The bank has
deposited  the  remainder  of  the  amount  after discharge  of its
liabilities in this Court.  Consequently the husband's application
has been in­effect allowed by this Court. 
6. Upon the sale of the flat a net amount of Rs.75 lakhs  is
lying deposited in this Court.  It is this amount which according
to the assurance­cum­statement of the husband in paragraph 10
of his own affidavit cited above must be used for purchase of a
new   flat   in   which   the   wife   and   the   children   would   not   be
dispossessed of their matrimonial home and would only have a
change of their address. 
7. It may at once be stated that if parties have to own a house
which is their matrimonial home, both the husband and the wife
must bear the consequences of the loan.  The loan must first be
repaid.  From the remainder, an alternate premises, which would
be   their   future   matrimonial   home,   would   be   allowed   to   be
purchased.  This was the husband's application and this is what
has been ordered by the court in the above writ petition.

8. Upon seeing that indeed the bank had to be paid­off the
loan, this Court, from time to time passed directions in the writ
petition for the sale of the flat.  The remainder would go for the
purchase of  the new  flat as per  the husband's own assurance­
cum­statement.  
9. However  the  husband  changed  colour  after  he  saw  the
colour of money.  He has put up his mother to make the above
application No. 146 of 2013 to claim the amount as her own.
She has made the ITO a party respondent on the premise that
there is a certain income tax attachment for payment of income
tax dues of the husband (her son). She has feigned the case of
not   having   any   relation  with   her  son   upon   he  and  his   wife
“colluding and having nefarious designs”.   In paragraph 28 of
her  application  she  claims  to  have  published  a  notice in  the
newspaper in 1999 that she does not have any relation with her
son   and   her   daughter­in­law.   However   she   claims   to   have
purchased the suit property which is the matrimonial home of
the parties in 2006 along with her son (husband) and claims to
have  taken a joint loan along with her son (husband) in  that
year.  She has stated that the husband, wife and she herself were
residing   in   the   suit   property.   She   consented   to   her   son's
(husband's) application for sale of the flat in the Family Court
which was stated by the husband in his affidavit. 
10. In paragraph 34 of her application she claims that she was
thrown out of  the house despite being a co­owner of  the suit

property.   She has stated  that  “for years she was homeless”
and is presently staying in a rented house for no fault of herself.
She has  further stated  that  she is a senior citizen having  “no
source of income” and is dependent upon the amount that “she
was likely to receive” upon this Court's orders (of sale).  Hence
she has claimed 50% of the suit property being a co­owner/joint
owner with the husband(her son).  
11. In a further affidavit of the mother, she claims that the suit
flat   is   essentially   only   her   property,   that   she   was   running   a
canteen for 6 – 8 years since she was 16 years old (she is now 70
years old)  to  “meet daily expenses”  by  “shear hard work  I
have been able to earn my  living”  and has acquired several
properties in her life time. 
12. She claims that she initially acquired one flat in a MHADA
building.  She was alloted that flat on 16th November, 1999.  She
has  not  shown  how  she was  possessed  of monies  to  pay  the
consideration for that flat and what is the consideration that she
paid.  
13. It must be remembered  that  the parties were married in
1997.  The flat is purchased 2 years after their marriage.  That
was in the year she allegedly gave a public notice of disowning
her son.  
14. The mother claims that she sold that flat in 2005­2006 to
one Rajeev Bhatnagar.  She has produced an agreement for sale

dated 30th  December, 2005 registered on 5th  January, 2006 for
which stamp duty of Rs.1,27,300/­ was paid on 30th December,
2005.     She   received   Rs.28   lakhs   by   3   DDs   from   Rajeev
Bhatnagar.  She has shown the deposit of the DDs in her Account
No. 90 SB 400 42179 in Centurion Bank of Punjab Limited.  
15. It must be appreciated that the receipt of consideration  for
this property is shown to have been credited in her account at
the time of sale, but the payment of consideration for the same
property   has   not   been   shown   to   have   been   debited   to   her
account  at  the  time of purchase  of  the  property.   This is  the
seminal suppression of the mother of the husband.  
16. The   wife   has   claimed   that   the   suit   flat   belongs   to   the
husband.     His   mother's   name   was   added   for   the   sake   of
convenience.  The husband himself made an application for sale
of his own flat.  He made out a case that he had purchased it as
his matrimonial home. Due to his “financial crises” he could not
pay the loan and hence sought to sell the flat.  In fact when the
wife sought to make the mother a party respondent in the Family
Court the husband has claimed that she has nothing to do with
the dispute and was needlessly sought to be joined and “roped
in”.   Now the mother has claimed that she purchased this flat
along with another flat being flat No.704 in Usha Garden which
is the adjoining flat herself for the consideration of Rs.28 lakhs
which she received from the sale of the initial MHADA flat.  
17. It does not matter how the amount received in 2006 in the
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account   of   the   mother   has   come   to   be   utilised   unless   the
purchase of the flat by her and none else is shown.  At the time
of the purchase her son was married.  He was expected to have
income to support his own family.  At the time of the sale of that
flat the parties had disputes.    
18. Several debit entires are shown for purchase of flat No.704
by her entirely and for payment of stamp duty for the suit flat
and payment of two other installments for the suit flat. 
19. Her bank account makes interesting reading.  
20. Rs. 28 lakhs has been received by her on 4th January, 2006.
It is invested in a FDR on 5th January, 2006.  The FDR has been
closed   on   19th  January,   2006   upon   receiving   interest   of
Rs.4908/­.  She has made payments of Rs.5 lakhs, Rs. 1 lakh, Rs.
11 lakhs etc., to her daughter soon thereafter.  She has made a
transfer to herself of Rs.16 lakhs on 3rd March, 2006 by inward
clearing which shows that she has another bank account also in
the same bank. 
21. Thereafter   she   has   commenced   the   transaction   for
purchase of two flats.  It would be apt to see the dates of two
purchases and then revert to her bank account.  
22. The first purchase is on 6th April, 2006 of flat No.704. That
flat is adjoining  the matrimonial home of  the parties. She has
paid  stamp  duty  of  Rs.92500/­  on  4th  April,  2006.    She  has

registered the flat on 7th April, 2006.  She has made the initial
payment of Rs.2 lakhs to the builder Jain Associates on 7th April,
2006 by cheque dated 4th April, 2006.  Thereafter she has made
payment of further Rs.2 lakhs, Rs.5 lakhs, Rs. 1 lakh and Rs.4
lakhs on 14th  April, 2006, 24th  April, 2006, 2nd  May, 2006 and
19th May, 2006.  The first three entries of 14th April, 2006, 24th
April,   2006   and   2nd  May,   2006   are   reflected   in   her   bank
statement.  The last payment of Rs. 4 lakhs of 19th May, 2006 is
made from another account in her name in Lord Krishna Bank
by a cheque drawn on that bank bearing No.034728.  The total
payments made by her for flat No.704 shown by her from her
bank account is Rs.11 lakhs.   She claims full ownership rights
over that flat.  She claims to have utilised the sale price of the
MHADA flat of Rs. 28 lakhs for purchase of flat Nos. 703 and
704 in Usha Garden. 
23. We must now see what she paid for the suit flat No. 703
which is the matrimonial home of the husband and wife (her son
and  daughter­in­law).   The  transaction  for  the  suit  flat must,
therefore, be seen.  Her son and she have purchased the suit flat
on 1st June, 2006.  The flat stands in the joint names of the son
as the first primary holder; her name is joined with him.   She
has paid Rs.1.28 lakhs as stamp duty from the aforesaid account
on 19th  May, 2006.   The agreement is registered on 2nd  June,
2006.    The initial  payment  of   Rs.  1 lakh is   reflected in  the
agreement showing the said amount paid by cheque No. 034726
drawn on Lord Krishna Bank which is her other bank account.
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24. It is  stated  that both  the joint owners  took a loan  from
Citibank in respect of flat No.703.  Counsel on behalf of the wife
rightly   argued   that   Citibank   would   require   the   security   of
business or an assured salaried income to be able to disburse the
loan.  The Citibank, in fact, disbursed the loan to the husband
who   is   an   income   tax   assessee   and   in   fact   an   income   tax
defaulter running up his arrears to Rs.30 lakhs by way of default
in payment of income tax as claimed by the income tax authority
who  is  the  respondent  in  the  mother's  application  and  who,
accordingly, has been heard.  In fact it is mentioned to Court by
th   ITO   who  is   present   on   behalf   of   respondent   No.2   in   the
application of the mother that the mother is NOT an income tax
assessee at all !
25. Indeed the husband's name is the first name as the holder
of the flat. The flat indeed belongs to the husband.  Hence the
husband filed an application without his mother in  the Family
Court to sell the flat.  He offered to purchase a new flat which
would be the alternate matrimonial home of the parties and in
which his wife and children would reside peaceably.  That offer
was not a genuine offer.  The act of the mother has shown the
intention of  the husband.   Despite  the skill and labour of Mr.
Cama  that has  gone into  his  arguments in  showing  the bank
account of the mother to prove that the suit flat belongs to her,
his effort has come to nothing as such are the facts of the case
demonstrated by the documents of the parties. 
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26. Though   the   mother   has   claimed,   as   aforesaid,   in   her
application  that  she  has  been  homeless  for years  and  has  no
source   of   income  except   what   she   would   receive   from   this
application for which she made her application, she has made a
further affidavit in a bid to show how she has been a successful
business woman having a tremendous  income from which she
has purchased several properties including the suit flat.  She has
titled  herself    a  “self made woman”  and  shown  how  she  has
purchased  a  shop, MHADA  tenement,  the  aforesaid  two  flats
from the sale of that tenement etc.  
27. To   substantiate   her   sturdy   financial   position   she   has
produced the statement of another bank account.  
28. That also makes interesting reading and deserves a good
look. Assuming that that is for the relevant period to show her
financial   acumen   from   her   catering   business   which   she
commenced 54 years ago, and carried on  for 6 – 8 years,  the
bank statements are enough to show her complete lack of bona
fides. 
29. The statement is of Account No. 034 0001 00000 5614.
The name  of  the bank is  not  shown in  the photocopy of  the
statement that is produced showing her customer details on the
top   followed   by   the   bank   entries,   but   appears   to   be   the
statement of account in her name in Lord Krishna Bank. That
account begins from 3rd April, 2006 and is for entries up to 31st
January, 2008 which she calls the relevant period.  The very first
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entry shows the credit balance of Rs.7,52,414/­.  It is not known
and now shown how that credit came to be.  The withdrawal of
Rs.4 lakhs under cheque No. 034728 is shown from that account
after certain other withdrawals.  If the credits in the account are
not explained  the  debits  cannot  be  accepted.    She must  first
show how she had Rs.4 lakhs in her account to pay the builder
therefrom.  
30. She claims to show other payments made to the builder for
flat No.703 for which there are no corroborating receipts issued
by the builder.  These payments are sought to be reflected in the
bank account No. 034 0001 00000 5614.  Rs. 1 lakh is paid on
8
th May, 2006 when the account had a balance of Rs. 7 lakhs and
odd which is not explained.  
31. There  are  two  other interesting  credits  of Rs.6.22 lakhs
and Rs. 3 lakhs which are not explained.  Rs. 2 lakhs is stated to
be paid to the builder on 29th  January, 2007 when the account
had Rs.7.77 lakhs credit after the aforesaid two payments were
deposited.   Thereafter there is a complete void between 1st April
2007   and   3rd  September   2007.     Hence   how   the   account
continued to be maintained is not shown. 
32. The payments made thereafter are even more interesting.
Rs.50,000/­, Rs.10,000/­ and Rs.40,000/­ are deposited on 4th
September,  2007.    This   was when  the  credit  balance in  the
account   was   rock   bottom.     After   deposit   of   Rs.50,000/­   the
balance   is   only   Rs.50293.15.     There   is   a   credit   balance   of
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Rs.1,00,293.15 on 4th  September, 2007 by  the  aforesaid  three
cheques.  On the same day a cheque for Rs.1 lakh is shown to be
issued to Jain Associates and stated to be for flat No.703.  There
is no receipt of the builder for that payment. 
33. Similarly   on   three   other   dates   in   September   2007
Rs.20000/­,   Rs.   60,000/­,   Rs.   10,000/­   and   Rs.10,000/­   are
deposited again making a credit balance of Rs.100293.15 on 28th
September, 2007.  The builder is paid Rs.1 lakh on that day itself
ostensibly for flat No.703, but which is not corroborated by any
receipt of the builder for that flat.  
34. Similarly   in   the   next   month   on   3rd  October,   2007,   4th
October, 2007 and 6th October, 2007 Rs.25000/­, Rs.25000/­ and
Rs.50,000/­  are  deposited in  the  account  and  on  6th  October,
2007   itself   Rs.75000/­   and   Rs.26450/­   are   paid   to   Jain
Associates   again   allegedly   for   flat   No.703,   but   which   is   not
corroborated by any receipt for that flat. 
35. Immediately thereafter on 9th October, 2007 Rs.42,300/­ is
deposited in the account and on 10th October, 2007 Rs.42240/­
is paid to the builder.  Before each of these payments the balance
was in the region of Rs.200/­ to Rs.300/­.  After the debit entry
for payment to the builder similar is the balance being less than
Rs.500/­.   The minimum  balance  charge  of Rs.28/­  has  been
levied on 30th  November, 2007, 31st  December, 2007  and 31st
January, 2008 !
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36. Such   is   the   wealthy   woman   who   acquired   enormous
immovable properties including her son's matrimonial home in
which she by her grace allowed her son to live with his family
peaceably and happily, though she was so tormated that she had
issued a public notice disowning her son.
37. It is unmistakably clear that the applicant mother has no
source of income.  She is indeed a homeless person having no
source of income as claimed by her in paragraph 34 of her initial
application.  She is used and propped up by her son  to make a
false show of having a separate property.  
38. The   son,   an   income   tax   assessee   is   shown   to   be   the
defaulter.   The son having taken the bank loan has been shown
to   be   a   defaulter.   The   son   obviously   tried   to   hoodwink   the
income tax authorities initially into not showing at least some of
his acquired wealth from his earned income.  The son thereafter
played foul with his wife and children.  He has thrown his hands
up and neglected to support and  maintain them constraining his
wife  to  file  an  application  for maintenance in which  she  has
been  granted maintenance  by  the  court.    The  son  thereafter
claimed to dishouse and dispossess his wife and children on the
ostensible ground of sale of her matrimonial home.  He gave a
false assurance to the court to rehouse his wife and children in
what he called their alternative matrimonial home and when the
time for rehousing came he again put up his mother.  Since this
Court would not believe her false claim she has been constrained
to show her bank accounts.  The bank accounts only exposed her
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dishonesty as much as her son's defaults. 
39. The   bank   accounts   show   only   Rs.28   lakhs   deposited
without the corresponding entry of showing the purchase  price
of the MHADA tenement.  Similarly the bank account only shows
the  stamp  duty  paid  for  flat No.703  and  no    other  amounts.
Other amounts shown to be paid to Jain Associates, the builder
may   well   be   for   flat   No.704   for   which   the   receipts   are
mischievously suppressed to falsely contend that they were paid
for flat No.703.  Further the bank account shows that amounts
are deposited on a single day, a single week or a single month
(4/9/2007,   September,   2007   and   the   first   week   of   October,
2007) which are immediately paid out to make a show of the
payment for the suit flat from the account shown to be the name
of the mother.  
40. It  is  impossible   for  the  applicant  mother  to   earn  these
amounts in a single day or week and leaving her bank account
bereft of funds and wholly dry thereafter.  Even excepting that
the credit entries are  for  flat No.703 only, it is clear  that  the
amounts are deposited in the account of the mother all by cash
deposits between September and November, 2007 by none other
than the son in whose name the flat stood for payment for the
suit flat.  
41. It must be remembered that for the other flat from Rs.28
lakhs received by her she has shown only Rs.11 lakhs spent from
her account.  If that is her own flat, the other debit entries from
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Lord Krishna Bank would also be made for that flat only as there
is no other source of funds for that flat.  No other bank loan is
claimed to be taken for that flat.  
42. Nevertheless   an   explanation   was   sought   by   the   Court
about  these  numerous inexplicable  credit  entries in  both  her
accounts.     Mr.   Cama,   on   behalf   of   the   mother,   upon   taking
instructions, explained that there are entries of receipt of rents
by the mother from the shop that she owns and which she has
tenanted. 
43. When   she   purchased   the   shop   is   not   shown   in   the
statement   like   the   MHADA   tenement.     It   is   stated   to   be
purchased long back in 1984.  The source of that purchase has
not been shown.  The dates of the receipt of the rent of the shop
would be important to note.  They are as follows: 
Sr.No. Amount Date
1 10,000 7/3/2005
2 5000 30/3/2005
3 10000 23/4/2005
4 8750 3/4/2006
5 10000 18/4/2006
6 10000 15/5/2006
7 50000 4/9/2007
8 10000 4/9/2007
9 40000 4/9/2007
10 20000 14/9/2007
11 60000 27/9/2007
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44. It is impossible to accept this incredible explanation. Rent
income would be receivable each month.  If the tenant defaults
in   the   payment   of   rent   it   would   be   receivable   after   certain
months in a lumpsum or otherwise. There are 3 deposit entries
in March, 2005 and April, 2005 of Rs.10000/­, Rs.5000/­ and
Rs.10,000/­.    Thereafter  from May  2005  to  2nd  March,  2007
there is no rent entry shown at all in Account No. 90 SB 400
42179.     Similarly   the   cash   deposit   entries   are   in   the   other
account of  the applicant mother being account No. 034 0001
00000 5614.   The cash deposit entries are  two entries of Rs.
8750/­   and   Rs.10,000/­   in   April,   2006,   Rs.10,000/­   in   May,
2006  followed by no such entires  from June, 2006  to March,
2007.   Again  the cash deposit entries are in September, 2007
and   October,   2007   as   stated   above   leaving   almost   a   zero
balance.
45. These  accounts  only   show   the  user  for  making  various
cross entries.  And that is by the mother who pays no income tax
having a son who is a defaulter assessee. 
46. Besides these, in the other bank account there are 3 entries
of Rs.5 lakhs, Rs.  1 lakh  and Rs.  11 lakhs  showing  payment
made  to  Gunita Malhotra   who  is  stated  to   be  her  daughter.
These payments are made soon after the receipt of  Rs.28 lakhs
was  credited  to  the  applicant's  account  from  the  sale  of  the
MHADA tenement.  Hence it is seen that from Rs. 28 lakhs Rs.17
lakhs are paid by the applicant to her daughter.  
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47. Similarly   there   is   one   transfer   entry   of   Rs.16   lakhs   by
inward clearing showing another account of the applicant in the
same bank.  One cheque payment was made to the builder of Rs.
5 lakhs which is later stated to be returned.  There is a credit
entry of Rs. 10 lakhs which is not explained.  By these payments
of  Rs.17 lakhs   to  the  daughter,  Rs.16 lakhs   as  a  transfer  to
herself and Rs. 5 lakhs to the builder, Rs.28 lakhs received from
the sale of MHADA tenement and Rs. 10 lakhs also received is
shown  to be entirely defrayed.   The balance of Rs.28000 and
odd which was in the account prior to  the deposit of the sale
proceeds of the MHADA tenement came back to Rs.28000 and
odd after these entries !
44.  Several amounts which have been credited to the account
are   withdrawn   immediately   and   invested   in   FDRs   (at   the
opportune  time.)  Nothing   has  been invested  in  the  suit  flat.
Instead a loan has been taken by the husband (her son).
45. The   account   also   shows   certain   receipts   from   G.M.
Educational  Institute.    It is not  the mother's case  that she has
dabbled into business of the educational institute  at all.  In her
affidavit showing the assets of her husband, filed in the Family
Court the wife has shown that her husband is trustee of  G.M.
International School at Goregaon.   The bank account which is
ostensibly of the mother shows 3 credit entries of Rs. 3 lakhs,
Rs.1 lakh and Rs.4.25 lakhs credited to her account on 7th April,
2006,   21st  July,   2006   and   11th  December,   2006   from   that
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institute   being   receipts   of   amounts   from   G.M.   Educational
Institute.  Similarly the wife, in the said affidavit has shown her
husband's  business in  Shri Ram Auto.    The mother's  account
shows payments of Rs.45000 and Rs.45000 made therefrom to
Shri Ram Auto.  
46. The accounts stated to be of the mother are, therefore, a
camouflage  for  the accounts  showing  the income   of  the son.
The property purchased by the son showing his mother's name
as  the joint holder is obviously with  the same ugly intent. At
best,  the mother is a joint owner  for the sake of convenience.
She has neither earned the amount to pay for the suit property
nor actually paid for it from her own separate individual genuine
bank account.
47. The entries in the Bank accounts show the handiwork of a
shrewd,  tax evasive businessman.  It is not  the product of  the
applicant/mother who claims to be having no source of income. 
48. From  the evidence produced by  the mother herself it is
made crystal clear  that  the  son has deposited amounts in her
account which she has withdrawn to show payments made for
the suit flat.  The suit flat is not purchased by the mother out of
her own known source of income  being her catering business or
even otherwise.  
49. The wife has shown several properties of the husband in
her application  filed in  the Family Court which is annexed as
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Exhibit­N  to   the   above   writ   petition.     These   are  “(a)   flat
No.1103, CTS No.7, Survey No.41, in Satellite Highets at Anand
Nagar, Lokhandwala Extention Road, opp: Oshiwara Bus Depot,
Andheri(W), Mumbai 400 012. (b) Shastri Nagar Surya Mukhi
CHS Ltd., Shop No.2, Bldg. No.26, Shastri Nagar, Goregaon(W),
Mumbai­400 014 (sold last month for approx. Rs. 1 Crore). ( c )
Shop No.6/7 Pimpri Pada, Gokhul Dham, Goregaon(East), sold
in the year 2009­10”.
50. She   has   also   shown   the   husband's   business   at   (Head
Office)   Shri   Ram   Auto   Showroom,   3   Wheelers,   A­4,   Anand
Nagar,   B.M.   Colony,   Behind   Oshiwara   Police   Station,
Jogeshwari(W), Mumbai­400  012  and  branch  office  at Budha
Nagar, Marve Cross Road, Near Tata Powers House, Malwani,
Malad(W), Mumbai­95.
51. The mother is not even an income tax assessee.  She has
wholly sought to be out of the income tax dragnet.  A woman
with means to purchase a shop and two flats must have income
which would be assessable to tax.   She must file her returns and
show how she is not assessable to tax.  She has not done that.
Her   son   has   filed   his   income   tax   returns   and   defaulted   in
payment of tax by not showing the correct income so that the
income tax authorities have sought to levy penalty and interest
upon his declared income and sought to attach his properties.
52. The assessment order dated 21st  December, 2011 passed
against the husband shows a turnover of Rs.69.14 lakhs claiming
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expenses of Rs.65.76 lakhs and showing a net profit of Rs.3.36
lakhs which has been disbelieved and rejected and 50% of the
expenses   are   disallowed   in   the   absence   of   genuineness   of
expenses.   His  total income is  rounded  to Rs.64.36 lakhs  on
which   he has been assessed  to income  tax.   The income  tax
assessment is produced by  the mother in her further affidavit.
Upon the Income Tax Office being made respondent No.2, the
Income   Tax   Officer   has   produced   the   total   liability   towards
income tax dues of the husband of Rs.27.66 lakhs with further
interest of Rs.3.30 lakhs.  Hence the total income tax liability as
on the date of the hearing of the above applications and petition
is Rs.30.96 lakhs.  The same rises each day. 
53. The son has sought to dispose his properties to evade the
attachment.  The mother has sought to use up the matrimonial
home to clear the tax dues of the son.   Hence it is seen why she
has  sought  to make  the  ITO  a  party  respondent in  her  own
application.  She would rather have her son's property attached
by Income Tax Authorty than allow her daughter­in­law to reside
there.  Her son would rather have his matrimonial home cleared
to tax evasion and save his other ill­gotten properties.  
54. Nevertheless  the income  tax  authority is  stated  to  have
attached the shop of the son and his matrimonial home being
flat  No.704.  The  attachment  order is  not  produced.  Only  an
assessment order dated 21st December, 2011 is produced by the
mother.  The Income Tax Authority might do well to consider the
attachment of the other flat for the mother's claimed income as
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well.  
55. The   Income   Tax   Authority   has   not   made   its   own
application at all.    It is only  respondent No.2 in  the mother's
application.  
56. The   application   of   the   wife   for   the   purchase   of   the
alternative residential flat in lieu of her matrimonial home which
came  to be sold upon  the pretense of her husband  to pay off
rightful dues of Citibank is required to be thus viewed.  In fact
she has applied for withdrawal of Rs.75 lakhs for a matrimonial
home and in the alternative withdrawal of 50% of the amount
for alternative residential accommodation  for herself   and her
two minor daughters and in the alternative she has fairly applied
for withdrawal  of Rs.26.66 lakhs  after  deduction  of  the  then
income tax dues of Rs.21.66 lakhs therefrom.  
57. It would now have to be seen how the applications of the
wife, the income tax authority or the mother should be allowed.
This leaves  the    question   whether  the wife's  claim  could be
entertained or sacrificed in view of the alleged attachment or a
sound   discretion   for   securing   both   these   worthy   claims   be
exercised.
58. The  right  of  a wife  to  be  protected in  her matrimonial
home came  to be considered by Courts in England under  the
common law, the law of justice, equity and good conscience and
later   under   the  Matrimonial   Homes   Act,   1967.     It   cannot   be
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gainsaid that wives who are equal partners in matrimony would
have   equal   rights   in   their   matrimonial   home   with   their
husbands.  
59. In the case of Rimmer vs. Rimmer, (1953) 1 QB 63, the
husband and the wife purchased the home, in which they lived,
for diverse amounts paid by both of them.  The husband had, of
course, paid a larger share.  Upon the desertion of the wife by
the husband, he sold the house.  The wife applied under Section
17 of the Married Women’s Property Act, 1882 for a share of the
sum realised on the same.  It was held that it would be fair and
just that the sum realised on the house, which was so largely a
windfall,   should   be   divided   between   the   husband   and   wife
equally. (Jones vs. Maynard (1951) Chancery 572 approved).
60. In   the   case   of  Falconer   vs.   Falconer,   (1970)   3   All
England   Report   449   C.A.   =   (1970)   (1)   W.L.R.   1333,   the
concept   of   trust   inferred   from   the   conduct   and   surrounding
circumstances  of  the  spouses who  owned  or lived in  a  home
which was their matrimonial home came to be considered.   In
that case the house was purchased in the name of the wife. She
mortgaged the house.  The husband stood surety. The husband
paid   certain   amounts   for   “extras”   for   the   house   as   well   as
housekeeping   money   to   the   wife.   He   also   paid   half   of   the
mortgage instalments  and  rates.  Thereafter  he left  the  house
alleging desertion by the wife.
61. It was held by Lord Denning that where one spouse makes
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a substantial financial contribution to a matrimonial home in the
name of the other, a trust may be inferred from their conduct
and the surrounding circumstances. Referring to the judgments
in  Gissing   vs.   Gissing  as   well   as  Pettitt   vs.   Pettitt  it   was
observed thus:­
“..... the principles on which a matrimonial home which
stands   in   the   name   of   husband   or   wife   alone,   is
nevertheless  held   to   belong   to   them   both   jointly  (in
equal or unequal shares).  It is done, not so much by
virtue of an agreement, express or implied, but rather
by virtue of a trust which is imposed by law. The law
imputes to husband and wife an intention to create a
trust,  the  one for  the other.  It does  so  by way  of  an
inference   from   their   conduct   and   the   surrounding
circumstances, even though the parties themselves made
no agreement upon it. This inference of a trust, the one
for the other, is readily drawn when each has made a
financial  contribution  to  the purchase price or  to  the
mortgage instalments.  The financial contribution may
be  direct,   as   where   it   is   actually   stated   to   be   a
contribution  towards  the price or  the instalments.    It
may be indirect, as where both go out to work, and one
pays   the   housekeeping   and   the   other   the   mortgage
instalments.  It does not matter which way round it is.
It does not matter who pays what. So long as there is a
substantial financial  contribution  towards  the family
expenses, it raises the inference of a trust. But where it
is insubstantial no such inference can be drawn; see the
cases  collected in  the dissenting judgment  of Edmund
Davies L.J. In the Court of Appeal [1969] 2 Ch. 85, 97,
which   was   upheld   by   the   House.     The   House   did,
however, sound a note of warning about proportions. It
is not in every case that the parties hold in equal shares.
Regard must be had  to  their  respective  contributions.
This confirms the practice of this court.  In quite a few
cases  we  have  not  given  half­and­half  but  something
different.“
The Royal Commission in 1936 which observed :
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“If on marriage she gives up her paid work in order to
devote herself to caring for her husband and children, it
is an unwarrantable hardship when in consequence she
finds herself in the end with nothing she can call her
own”.
The Law Society had considered :
“In   the   generality   of   marriage,   the   wife   bears   the
children  and minds  the  house.  She  thereby frees  the
husband   for   his   economic   activities.   Since   it   is   her
performance of her function which enables the husband
to perform his, she is in justice entitled to share in its
fruits and the Courts which ‘have never been able to do
justice to her’.”
62. This led to the enactment of the Matrimonial Proceedings
and Property Act, 1970.  Under Section 5(1)(f) of the Act, the
contribution made by each of the parties to the welfare of the
family including  the  contributions made  by looking  after  the
home or carrying for the family were to be considered. The Law
Commission  showed  the importance  of Section 5(1)(f) in  the
contributions  for  the welfare of  the  family not only including
contributions in money  or money’s worth  but  also in looking
after the home and the family for example by domestic chores
thereby relieving their husbands for financial employment as a
factor to have been considered.
63. Consequently,   it   was   observed   in  Watchal  Vs.  Watchal
(1973) EWCA Civil 10 which inter alia dealt with the concept of
the deserted wife's equitable interest thus:
“.... we may take it that Parliament recognised that the
wife who looks after the home and family contributes as
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much  to  the family assets as  the wife who goes out  to
work. The one contributes in kind. The other in money
or money’s worth. If the Court comes to the conclusion
that the home has been acquired and maintained by the
joint  efforts  of  both,  then,  when  the marriage  breaks
down, it should be regarded as the joint property of both
of them, no matter in whose name it stands. Just as the
wife who makes substantial money contributions usually
gets a share, so should the wife who looks after the home
and cares for the family for twenty years or more.”
64. In the case of Williams & Glyn’s Bank Ltd. vs. Boland &
anr. (1979) 2 W.L.R. 550, the husband was the sole registered
proprietor of the matrimonial home.  The wife contributed to the
purchase of the house.  The husband charged the property to the
Bank.     The   Bank   claimed   for   possession.     Section   1   of   the
Matrimonial Homes Act, 1967 was considered.  It dealt with the
spouse who had an equitable interest in a dwelling house or in
the  proceeds  of  sale.   The interest  of  such  spouse was  to  be
considered  for  the  right  of  occupation  only.  It was  held  that
because   the   wife   had   contributed   to   the   purchase   of   the
matrimonial home  she was  an equitable  tenant­in­common of
the property under trust for sale and the estate remained vested
in  the husband as  sole  trustee.   The wife, who was in actual
possession  of  the land, would  have  an  overriding interest  to
which   the   Bank’s   charge   was   subject   and   was   entitled   to
protection of her occupation of the matrimonial home.   It was
held by Lord Denning that the bank was not entitled to throw
her “out into  the  street  –  simply  to get  the last penny of  the
husband’s debt”.
65. The   history   of   precedents   with   regard   to   the   deserted
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wife’s equity was set out by Lord Denning thus:
“I would put on one side cases from 1949 onwards about
deserted  wives.    In  those  cases  the wife  had  no  share
whatever in  the matrimonial home.   She was a “bare”
wife as I pointed out in Gurasz vs. Gurasz [1970] P. 11,
17.  In this court we gave her the protection which she
rightly deserved.  But the House of Lords stripped her of
it.  It held  that she had no protection against a lender
who   took   security   on   the   matrimonial   home   :   see
National Provincial Bank Ltd. v. Hastings Car Mart Ltd.
[1965]   A.C.   1175.   This   was   immediately   rectified   to
some  extent  by  the Matrimonial Homes Act  1967.    It
gave her a charge on the house : but it was subject to this
severe restriction  : it had  to be registered as a Class F
charge, and not all of the deserted wives had sufficient
knowledge  or  advice  to  do  this.    That Act  (as it was
passed in 1967) did not apply to a wife who was entitled
to a share in the house. Her position was remedied to a
slight extent in 1970 by section 38 of the Matrimonial
proceedings and Property Act 1970.    It enables a wife,
who has a share  to register a Class F charge.  But that
amendment was of precious little use to her, at any rate
when  she  was  still living  at  home in  peace  with  her
husband.    She   would   never   have   heard   of   a  Class   F
charge: and she would not have understood it if she had.
If she is to be protected at all, it will be by the decision of
the judges.
The wife’s share
Alongside  the deserted wife’s equity,  there was another
development   of   even   greater   significance.   It   was   the
concept of the “wife’s share” in the matrimonial home. In
former  times  the house was usually  conveyed into  the
name of the husband alone.  He was the one who went
out to work, earned the money, paid the deposit and the
mortgage instalments.   But when  the wife went out  to
work, things changed.  Her earnings came in very useful.
They went into the family pool. Out of it the outgoings
were   paid   including   the   deposit   and   the   mortgage
instalments.   The   conveyancers   in   the   old   days   would
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have held that the wife gained no interest whatever in
the house by  reason of her  contributions.   She got no
share in the house itself.  Nor, if it was sold, did she have
any share in the proceeds of sale.  For the simple reason
that she could show no contract, no legal right whatever
to   support   any   claim   :   see   Hoddinott   v.   Hoddinott
[1949]   2   K.B.   406.   But   by   a   remarkable   series   of
decisions­I  do  not  hestaite, looking  back,  to  call  them
remarkable­it was held that when a wife contributed in
money or money's worth  to the purchase of  the house,
she  acquired  a  share in it.    This  started  in  1953 in
Rimmer v. Rimmer [1953] 1 Q.B. 63, and was carried
forward in Cobb v. Cobb [1955] 1 W.L.R. 731 : Fribance
v.  Fribance  (No.2)  [1957]  1 W.L.R.  394  and  Hine  v.
Hine [1962] 1 W.L.R. 1124.  These decisions were based
to  some extent on  section 17 of  the Married Women’s
Property Act 1882. That ground was held by the House
of Lords to be erroneous in Pettitt v. Pettitt [1970] A.C.
777 on the ground that that section was procedural only.
It did not affect the rights of the parties.
But the decisions were justified in the next year by the
House   of   Lords   on   a   very   new­and   very   acceptable­
ground.    It was in Gissing v. Gissing [1971] A.C. 886
when   the   House   held   that,   in   these   cases   of   the
matrimonial home, a wife, who contributes in money or
money’s worth, does obtain a proprietary interest.  It is
done by way of a  trust imposed on  the husband.  Even
though the house is taken in the husband’s name alone,
the law imposes a trust upon him by which he holds the
legal estate in trust for them both jointly in such shares
as  justice  requires:  see  Falconer  v.  Falconer  [1970]  1
W.L.R. 1333; Hargrave v. Newton (formerly Hargrave)
[1971] 1 W.L.R. 1611 and Hazell v. Hazell  [1972] 1
W.L.R. 301.  This concept of a trust was adopted by the
legislature. It extended it to contributions, not only to the
purchase of a house, but also to improvements to it: see
section 37 of the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property
Act   1970.   Since   that   time   it   has   become   universal.
Nowadays most wives go out to work and their earnings
are   used­directly   or   indirectly­for   the   purchase   or
improvement of the matrimonial home. By so doing they
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obtain a beneficial interest in it.  The husband holds the
legal estate  on  trust for him and his wife both jointly­
usually half­shares­though it may be less or more.”
66. It   was   concluded   that   the   wife,   who   has   share   in   the
house,   has   an  equitable   interest  in   the   land   and   hence   the
purchaser   of   the   land   or   the   lender   of   money   who   has
knowledge or notice of the interest of the wife, takes it subject to
her interest.
67. The Matrimonial Homes Act,  1967 was  repealed  by  the
Matrimonial Homes Act, 1983 (MH Act) and brought into force
from 9th May 1983.  The 1983 Act dealt with the consolidation of
the  rights  of  a  husband  or wife  to  occupy  a  dwelling  house
which was their matrimonial home.  Section 1(1), (2), (3), (4)
and (10) determined the statutory rights along with Section 9
thereof.
Under Section 1(1) where one spouse was entitled to occupy a
dwelling   house   by   virtue   of   a   beneficial   estate,   interest   or
contract   or   an   enactment   and   the   other   spouse   was   not   so
entitled,   then   such   other   spouse   would   have   a   right   of
occupation. Under that right of occupation, he or she had a right
not to be evicted or excluded therefrom or a right to enter upon
and occupy it.
Under   Section   1(2)   either   spouse   may   apply   for   declaring,
enforcing,   restricting   or   terminating   those   rights,   or   for
prohibiting, suspending, or restricting the right of the other.  
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Under   Section   1(3),   the   Court   could   make   any   just   and
reasonable order having regard to the conduct of  the spouses,
the respective needs, financial resources and the needs of their
children in that behalf as also to make periodical payments to
the   other   spouse   in   respect   of   such   occupation   and   for
repayment and maintenance of the dwelling house.
Under  Section  1(4),  such  order would  remain in  force  for  a
specified period or until further orders.
Under Section 1(10), the Act would have no application to any
dwelling   house   which   was   not   the   dwelling   house   of   the
spouses.  The spouse’s rights of occupation would continue until
the marriage subsisted.
Under Section 9(1) of the Act, where any spouse has the right of
occupation in a matrimonial home, he or she could apply for an
order prohibiting, suspending or restricting  the exercise of the
right by  the other or  requiring  the other  spouse  to permit its
exercise by the Applicant.
Under Section 9(3), if the spouse had a right under a contract or
an enactment  to  remain in occupation of  the dwelling house,
Section 9 would apply where they would be entitled by virtue of
the legal estate vested in them jointly.
68.       Hence in terms, the new legislation conferred a complete
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right   of   occupation   to   both   the   spouses   to   remain   in   their
matrimonial  home  peaceably  and without  disturbance  by  the
others.  This was despite any other contractual or statutory right
and also when they were joint owners.
69.           The contribution of  the wife was,  therefore,  seen  to be
deeper than only “financial contribution” initially contemplated
in the case of Falconer (supra).  Any non­financial interest in a
marriage which is  a life  partnership was  also  given  due  and
equal importance.  It is this profound concept of a sacramental
relationship   that   is   the   bed­rock   of   common   law   as   has
developed from precedent to precedent as Alfred Lord Tennyson
had poetically expounded and which the legislations in England
and India have accepted and endorsed.  
70.      This   is   an   incident   of   gender   equality   enshrined   in   our
Constitution.
71.     In India the rights of the Indian wives in their matrimonial
home were governed by the common law.  Statutes in England,
the Matrimonial Homes Act, 1967, The Matrimonial Proceedings
and Property Act, 1970, The Domestic Violence and Matrimonial
Proceedings Act, 1976 and  the Matrimonial Homes Act, 1983
(Repealing   the   Act   of  1967)   appear  to  be   the   guiding  force
behind  the Prevention of Women  from Domestic Violence Act,
2005 (D.V. Act). 
72. This  concept  has  been  appreciated  and  accepted  by  the
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Supreme Court an another context also.    In  the case of  Arun
Kumar Agrawal & Anr. Vs. National Insurance Company Ltd.
& Ors. (2010) 9 SCC 218  the Supreme Court considered what
would be “just compensation” to be awarded to a widow upon
the death by accident of her husband  taking into account  the
gratuitous   services   rendered   by   the   wife   in   caring   for   the
husband  and  children, managing  the  household  affairs which
has been observed cannot be equated with services rendered by
others.     Giving   a   broad   definition   to   the   prime   services   the
Supreme   Court   observed   “it   is   not   possible   to   quantify   any
amount   in   lieu   of   services   rendered   by   wife/mother   to   the
family”   but   that   they   would   be   entitled   to   adequate
compensation in lieu thereof to bring about to gender equality as
per the mandate under the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).    
73. It is common knowledge  that parties were married since
1997.  The parties continued to be husband and wife until after
the purchase of their last matrimonial home in 2006 and lived
together in it until the winds of change rocked their marriage.
The   parties   have   begotten   two   children.     No   matter   their
disputes,  the  wife is  entitled  to  continue  in  the  matrimonial
home.    The  children  also  need  the  care  and  protection  of  a
home.  The husband has accepted this fact.  Upon the case of the
wife that her rights were being betrayed she sued in the Family
court for the necessary injunction in respect of her matrimonial
home.   The husband accepted  that right and pretended  to go
along with the wife whom he had disputes.  Hence he offered to
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sell the flat on the sustainable ground that he was in financial
crisis  after  he  took  the loan  and  promised  to  obtain  another,
perhaps   smaller,   house   for   his   wife   and   children.     This   was
despite the fact that the flat stood in the name of the husband
and his mother.  He claimed the consent of his mother.  He never
contended   that   the   mother   had   made   payment   of   any
consideration for the flat No. 703, their matrimonial home.  The
wife's right must continue despite the husband's camouflage in
wanting to pay off the bank.  The wife's financial contribution is
of no significance.  She is an equal partner in matrimony.  She
lived in matrimony with the husband for more than a decade.
She is entitled to an equal share in the matrimonial home.  This
right was her common law right now been statutorily recognized
and enshrined in Section 19 of the D.V. Act.  Upon the fraud of
the husband (being the applicant's son) in putting up his mother
as the claimant who has roped even the income tax authority to
deprive his wife and children, the matrimonial Court must come
to her rescue.  It would be as Lord Denning had proclaimed in
his  golden  words   “justice  for  the  bank  with mercy  for  the
wife”.  Justice has been done to the bank.  The bank is finally
paid   up.     The   other   created   obstacle   is   the   Income   Tax
Department.  Justice would have to be done to the Income Tax
Authority as well.  It would have to be “Justice for Income Tax
Department   with   mercy   for   the   wife   and   children”.     This
justice would be done from the husband's share.  The husband
who is  seen  to  be  an  upstart  and who  has  receded into  the
background is manifestly the main hero of the entire act.   He
having failed in his attempt to show his mother's share, only his
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share   must   be   used   for   the   attachment   of   the   Income   Tax
Authority.  The wife's share must be kept secured.  This would
also be for the security of the children.
74. The   parties   were   to   have   a   healthy,   happy,   nuclear
matrimonial  home  after  selling  out  their  flat  and  purchasing
another   flat   for   themselves.     In   that   flat,   the   income   tax
attachment would loom large.   The wife is not responsible for
the attachment.  The husband is the sole defaulter.  The husband
claims  that he has  a  good case in his  appeal, if  and when it
would be prosecuted.  The husband's share in the flat would not
only  suffice  for  the income  tax attachment but will be amply
protected   by   the   merits   of   the   husband's   case   that   he   has
emphasized.  
75. Under  these circumstances how  the amount lying  to  the
credit of this writ petition be equitably used must be considered
and ordered.
76. Whilst  the  wife's  claim   to  her matrimonial  home  ranks
paramount and cannot be sacrificed at the alter of the Income
Tax Authority which has itself not claimed any relief and which
has been deliberately, mischievously and collusively sought to be
brought on record for a nefarious purpose of settling the income
tax dues from the only property otherwise claimed by the wife as
her matrimonial home, the Income Tax Authority's claim would
have to be taken into account and secured against the husband's
share in the matrimonial home.  
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77. The wife  has  disputes with  her  husband.  She  has  been
tricked   into   the   sale   of   the   flat   upon   the   assurance   of   the
husband that the proceeds will be for her matrimonial home and
duped into  not  receiving  any  of  them  upon  the  claim  of  the
mother for herself and at her own instance also the income tax
authority.    The  husband  has many  properties  as  hereinabove
stated, shown by the wife.  Two of the properties are stated to
have been attached by the income tax authorities.  The income
tax dues can be recovered only from the sale of the shop which
is attached.  
78. It   may   be   mentioned   that   the   husband,   who   has   been
separately  represented, orally claimed  that  the  shop has been
sold.   No deed of sale is produced.   The shop could not have
been sold in lieu of the attachment.  Even if it is sold the sale
would   be   void   as   against   the   income   tax   authorities.   The
husband, however, seeks to discharge his income tax dues from
the only property available to the wife as her matrimonial home.
So be it; though he has put up his mother to claim a 1/2 share
upon   her   name   being   put   as   a   joint   owner   for   the   sake   of
convenience, it is now seen, for the sake of cheating his wife.  
79. The husband alone must bear the obligation of paying his
tax, so far evaded with all penalties and interest claimed by the
Tax Recovery Officer.  The husband claims that he has filed an
appeal.  Even that is not produced before the Court.  It is for the
husband  to  satisfy his income  tax liability in accordance with
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law.  The wife cannot be held at stake for such payment. 
80. If the wife is given the entire amount of Rs.75 lakhs which
indeed is the proceeds of the matrimonial home in which she is
entitled  to live with her children,  the husband  also would be
entitled to live therein.  In that case, as per the assurance of the
husband   in   the   family   Court   application­cum­reply   being   his
assurance­cum­statement   the   purchase   of   the   property   worth
Rs.75 lakhs would be the alternative matrimonial home of the
parties.  Rs. 75 lakhs is seen indeed to be the proceeds of their
matrimonial home alone in which they both are alone entitled to
live   with   their   children.   However   in   view   of   the   husband's
conduct and the disputes, it would be more appropriate for the
Court to grant separately to both of them the 1/2 share in the
sale   proceeds   which   may   belong   to   both   of   them   separately
instead of granting to them jointly as a matrimonial home.  
81. Hence 1/2 of the sale proceeds being Rs.37.5 lakhs would
belong   exclusively   to   the   wife   as   and   for   the   alternative
residence  to  her matrimonial home  available  for her  and  her
children's   residence.     The   remainder   of   Rs.37.5   lakhs   would
belong   exclusively   to   the   husband   subject   to   his   income   tax
liability.   Since it is  seen  that  the mother's  name was  only  a
facade and her application is totally dishonest and she does not
genuinely   own   or   has   paid   for   the   suit   flat   which   is   the
matrimonial   home   of   the   husband   and   wife,   she   cannot   be
granted any relief and cannot be disbursed any amount from the
amount deposited in this Court as the part of the sale proceeds.
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Hence following order: 
1. The impugned order dated 23rd August, 2011 of the
Family Court No. 7, Mumbai is modified.  
2. The wife shall be entitled to withdraw Rs.37.5 lakhs
from  the  amount  of Rs.75 lakhs lying  deposited  to  the
credit of this Writ Petition in this Court.  That shall be used
by   her   in   procuring   a   separate   residential   premises   in
which she shall be entitled to reside with her children. 
3. The Tax Recovery Officer, Respondent No.2 in C. A.
No. 146 of 2013 being the relevant Income Tax Authority
shall be entitled  to withdraw  the  Income Tax dues with
interest   and   penalty   subject   to   any   appeal   and   order
passed therein from the remainder 50% amount payable to
the husband as his share in the matrimonial home. 
4. Only   thereafter   the   husband   shall   be   entitled   to
withdraw the remainder of the amount lying deposited in
this  Court  after  deducting  Rs.25,000/­  therefrom  which
shall be paid to the wife as costs of prosecuting the above
application No.286 of 2013 and the above petition.
5. Rule to that extent is granted.
6. The   mother's   application   No.146   of   2013   is
dismissed with costs of Rs.25,000/­. 
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7. Both above  applications and  the   Writ Petition  are
disposed of accordingly.
8. This order is stayed for two weeks.
(MRS. ROSHAN DALVI, J.)
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