may also refer to the doctrine of forum non conveniens which can be
applied in matrimonial proceedings for advancing interest of justice.
Under the said doctrine, the court exercises its inherent jurisdiction to
stay proceedings at a forum which is considered not to be convenient
and there is any other forum which is considered to be more
convenient for the interest of all the parties at the ends of justice. In
Modi Entertainment Network and anr. v. W.S.G. Cricket Pte.
Ltd.(2003)4 SCC 341
this Court observed:
“19. In Spiliada Maritime Corpn. V. Cansulex Ltd. (1986)3 All ER 843 case the House of Lords laid down
the following principle:
“The fundamental principle
applicable to both the stay of English
proceedings on the ground that some
other forum was the appropriate
forum and also the grant of leave to
serve proceedings out of the
jurisdiction was that the court would
choose that forum in which the case
could be tried more suitably for the
interest of all the parties and for the
ends of justice.”
The criteria to determine which was a more appropriate forum,
for the purpose of ordering stay of the suit, the court would look
for that forum with which the action had the most real and
substantial connection in terms of convenience or expense,
availability of witnesses, the law governing the relevant
transaction and the places where the parties resided or carried
on business. If the court concluded that there was no other
available forum which was more appropriate than the English
court, it would normally refuse a stay. If, however, the court
concluded that there was another forum which was prima facie
more appropriate, the court would normally grant a stay unless
there were circumstances militating against a stay. It was
noted that as the dispute concerning the contract in which the
proper law was English law, it meant that England was the
appropriate forum in which the case could be more suitably
tried.”
Though these observations have been made in the context of
granting anti suit injunction, the principle can be followed in
regulating the exercise of jurisdiction of the court where proceedings
are instituted. In a civil proceeding, the plaintiff is the dominus litis
but if more than one court has jurisdiction, court can determine which
is the convenient forum and lay down conditions in the interest of
justice subject to which its jurisdiction may be availed.Kusum Ingots & Alloys Ltd. v. Union of India and anr. (2004) 6 SCC 254 para 30
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
TRANSFER PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 1912 OF 2014
KRISHNA VENI NAGAM
V
HARISH NAGAM
Dated:MARCH 9, 2017.
Citation:(2017)4 SCC150,2017(4) MHLJ764
1. This transfer petition has been filed for transfer of Case
No.179A/2013 u/s 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (the Act) titled
“Harish Nagam vs. Krishna Veni Nagam” pending on the file of II
Presiding Judge, Family Court, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh to the
Family Court Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
2. Case of the petitioner-wife is that she was married to the
respondent-husband in the year 2008 at Kukatpally, Hyderabad. She
was blessed with a girl child in 2009. While living in her in-law’s
house at Jabalpur, she was ill-treated. She was subjected to mental
and physical torture. She suffered injury on her spinal cord. She left
the matrimonial home in 2012.
3. The respondent-husband filed application for restitution ofPage 2
2
conjugal rights which was later on got dismissed as withdrawn.
Thereafter, a divorce petition has been filed at Jabalpur while the
petitioner has filed a domestic violence case at Hyderabad. Since the
petitioner-wife, along with her minor daughter, is living with her
parents, she cannot undertake long journey and contest the
proceedings at Jabalpur by neglecting her minor child. She also
apprehends threat to her security in attending proceedings at
Jabalpur.
4. On 7th January, 2015, notice was issued and stay of proceedings
was granted. The matter has been pending in this Court for more than
two years.
5. On 9th January, 2017 when the matter came-up for hearing, the
following order was passed:
“This petition is filed under Section 25 of the Code of Civil
Procedure seeking transfer of proceedings initiated by the
respondent under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act at
Jabalpur. According to the petitioner, who is the wife of the
respondent, she will face acute hardship in contesting the
proceedings at Jabalpur as she is living at Hyderabad. The
marriage took place at Hyderabad. The petitioner has to look
after her minor daughter who is living with her.
Undoubtedly under Section 19 of the Hindu Marriage Act,
the petition of the present nature could be filed at the place
where the marriage is solemnized or the respondent, at the time
of the presentation of the petition, resides or where the parties to
the marriage last resided together or where the wife is residing
on the date of the presentation of the petition, in case she is the
petitioner or in certain situations (as stipulated in clause iv)
where the petitioner resides.
This Court is flooded with petitions of this nature
and having regard to the convenience of the wife transfer
is normally allowed. However, in the process the litigants
have to travel to this Court and spend on litigation.
Question is whether this can be avoided?
We are of the view that if orders are to be passed in every
individual petition, this causes great hardship to the litigants
who have to come to this Court. Moreover in this process, the
matrimonial matters which are required to be dealt with
expeditiously are delayed.
In these circumstances, we are prima facie of the
view that we need to consider whether we could pass a
general order to the effect that in case where husband
files matrimonial proceedings at place where wife does
not reside, the court concerned should entertain such
petition only on the condition that the husband makes
appropriate deposit to bear the expenses of the wife as
may be determined by the Court. The Court may also pass
orders from time to time for further deposit to ensure that
the wife is not handicapped to defend the proceedings. In
other cases, the husband may take proceedings before the
Court in whose jurisdiction the wife resides which may
lessen inconvenience to the parties and avoid delay. Any
other option to remedy the situation can also be
considered.
However, before passing a final order, we consider it
necessary to hear learned Attorney General who may depute
some law officer to assist this Court.
List the matter on 31st January, 2017.
We also request Mr. C.A. Sundaram, Senior Advocate to
assist this Court as amicus curiae. A set of papers may be
furnished to the amicus.”
(Emphasis added)
6. Thus, the question is whether an order can be passed so as to
provide a better alternative to each individual being required to move
this Court.
7. We have already noted that large number of transfer petitions of
the present nature are being filed in this Court and are being
mechanically allowed. Similar observation was made by this Court
more than 10 years ago in Anindita Das v. Srijit Das1
“…On an
average at least 10 to 15 transfer petitions are on board of each court on each
1 (2006)9 SCC 197
admission day.” It has also been observed in a number of cases that in
absence of any male member being available to accompany the wife
who is party to matrimonial proceedings to a different place, it may
render it “expedient for ends of justice” to transfer proceedings2
.
8. Of course in some cases, it was observed that instead of
proceedings being transferred, the husband should pay travel, lodging
and boarding expenses of the wife and/or person accompanying for
each hearing3
. This trend has also been followed in other matrimonial
disputes, including guardianship dispute, etc.4
9. Spirit behind the orders of this Court in allowing the transfer
petitions filed by wives being almost mechanically allowing is that they
are not denied justice on account of their inability to participate in
proceedings instituted at a different place on account of difficulty
either on account of financial or physical hardship. Our
Constitutional scheme provides for guaranteeing equal access to
justice5
, power of the State to make special provisions for women and
children6
and duty to uphold the dignity of women7
. Various steps
2 Mona Aresh Goel v. Aresh Satya Goel (2000) 9 SCC255; Lalita A. Ranga v. Ajay Champalal
Ranga (2000) 9 SCC 355; Deepa v, Anil Panicker (2000) 9 SCC 441; Archana Rastogi v. Rakesh
Rastogi (2000)10 SCC 350; Leena Mukherjee v. Rabi Shankar Mukherjee (2002) 10 SCC 480;
Neelam Bhatia v. Satbir Singh Bhatia (2004) 13 SCC 436; Soma Choudhury v. Gourab
Choudhaury (2004) 13 SCC 462; Rajesh Rani v. Tej Pal (2007) 15 SCC 597; Vandana Sharma v.
Rakesh Kumar Sharma (2008)11 SCC 768; and Anju Ohri v. Varinder Ohri (2007) 15 SCC 556.
3 Premlata Singh v. Rita Singh (2005) 12 SCC 277
4
Gana Saraswathi v. H. Raghu Prasad (2000)10 SCC 277
5 Article 39A of the Constitution of India, 1950.
6 Article 15(3) of the Constitution of India, 1950.
7 Article 51-A(e) of the Constitution of India, 1950.Page 5
5
have been taken in this direction8
.
10. As noted in the Order dated 9th January, 2017 quoted above,
Section 19 of the Act permits proceedings to be filed not only at a
place where the wife resides but also at place where marriage is
solemnized or the place where the parties last resided together. It is
mostly in the said situations that the wife has hardship in contesting
proceedings. At the same time, under the law the husband is legally
entitled to file proceedings at such places. Territorial jurisdiction of
court is statutorily laid down in C.P.C. or other concerned statutes.
11. Accordingly, we have heard Shri C.A. Sundaram, learned senior
counsel as amicus curiae. Learned amicus has suggested that Section
19 of the Act should be interpreted to mean that the jurisdiction at the
8 . In Articles 243-D and 243-T of the Constitution, provision has been made for reservation for
women in Panchayats and Municipalities by 73rd and 74th Amendments. Need for affirmative
action consistent with the Article 15(3) of the Constitution has led to several measures being
adopted by the legislature, executive as well as the judiciary to advance gender justice. The
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
underlines the awareness of the international commitments on the subject which has inspired
several judgments of this Court [Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997) 6 SCC 241; Arun
Kumar Agrawal v. National Insurance Co. Ltd. (2010) 9 SCC 218; Charu Khurana v. Union
of India (2015)1 SCC 192; Prakash v. Phulavati (2016)2 SCC 36; Danial Latifi v. Union of
India (2001) 7 SCC 740; Voluntary Health Assn. of Punjab v. Union of India (2013) 4 SCC 1
and; Mackinnon Mackenzie & Co. Ltd. v. Audrey D’Costa (1987) 2 SCC 469. It was observed
in Voluntary Health Assn. as under:
“20. It would not be an exaggeration to say that a society
that does not respect its women cannot be treated to be civilised. In the
first part of the last century Swami Vivekanand had said:
‘Just as a bird could not fly with one wing
only, a nation would not march forward if the women
are left behind.’”
place other than where wife resides being available only at the option
of the wife or that such jurisdiction will be available in exceptional
cases where the wife is employed and the husband is unemployed or
where the husband suffers from physical or other handicap or is
looking after the minor child. Even though we are unable to give such
interpretation in the face of plain language of statute to the contrary
and it is for the legislature to make such suitable amendment as may
be considered necessary, we are certainly inclined to issue directions
in the interest of justice consistent with the statute.
12. Mr. Nadkarni, learned Addl. Solicitor General has suggested that
it will be appropriate to give some directions to meet the situation. He
submitted that paramount consideration in dealing with the issue
ought to be the interest of justice and not mere convenience of the
parties. Thus, where husband files a petition at a place away from the
residence of the wife, the husband can be required to bear travel and
incidental expenses of the wife, if it is so considered appropriate in the
interest of justice. At the same time, if the husband has genuine
difficulty in making the deposit, proceedings can be conducted by
video conferencing. At least one court room in every district court
ought to be equipped with the video conferencing facility. The interest
of the minor child has also to be kept in mind along with the interest
of the senior citizens whose interest may be affected by one of the
parties being required to undertake trips to distant places to face the
proceedings. Protracted litigation ought to be avoided by better
management and coordination so that number of adjournments can
be reduced.
13. We have considered the above suggestions. In this respect, we
may also refer to the doctrine of forum non conveniens which can be
applied in matrimonial proceedings for advancing interest of justice.
Under the said doctrine, the court exercises its inherent jurisdiction to
stay proceedings at a forum which is considered not to be convenient
and there is any other forum which is considered to be more
convenient for the interest of all the parties at the ends of justice. In
Modi Entertainment Network and anr. v. W.S.G. Cricket Pte.
Ltd.(2003)4 SCC 341
this Court observed:
“19. In Spiliada Maritime Corpn. V. Cansulex Ltd. (1986)3 All ER 843 case the House of Lords laid down
the following principle:
“The fundamental principle
applicable to both the stay of English
proceedings on the ground that some
other forum was the appropriate
forum and also the grant of leave to
serve proceedings out of the
jurisdiction was that the court would
choose that forum in which the case
could be tried more suitably for the
interest of all the parties and for the
ends of justice.”
The criteria to determine which was a more appropriate forum,
for the purpose of ordering stay of the suit, the court would look
for that forum with which the action had the most real and
substantial connection in terms of convenience or expense,
availability of witnesses, the law governing the relevant
transaction and the places where the parties resided or carried
on business. If the court concluded that there was no other
available forum which was more appropriate than the English
court, it would normally refuse a stay. If, however, the court
concluded that there was another forum which was prima facie
more appropriate, the court would normally grant a stay unless
there were circumstances militating against a stay. It was
noted that as the dispute concerning the contract in which the
proper law was English law, it meant that England was the
appropriate forum in which the case could be more suitably
tried.”
Though these observations have been made in the context of
granting anti suit injunction, the principle can be followed in
regulating the exercise of jurisdiction of the court where proceedings
are instituted. In a civil proceeding, the plaintiff is the dominus litis
but if more than one court has jurisdiction, court can determine which
is the convenient forum and lay down conditions in the interest of
justice subject to which its jurisdiction may be availed.Kusum Ingots & Alloys Ltd. v. Union of India and anr. (2004) 6 SCC 254 para 30
.
14. One cannot ignore the problem faced by a husband if
proceedings are transferred on account of genuine difficulties faced by
the wife. The husband may find it difficult to contest proceedings at a
place which is convenient to the wife. Thus, transfer is not always a
solution acceptable to both the parties. It may be appropriate that
available technology of video conferencing is used where both the
parties have equal difficulty and there is no place which is convenient
to both the parties. We understand that in every district in the
country video conferencing is now available. In any case, wherever
such facility is available, it ought to be fully utilized and all the High
Courts ought to issue appropriate administrative instructions to
regulate the use of video conferencing for certain category of cases.
Matrimonial cases where one of the parties resides outside court’s
jurisdiction is one of such categories. Wherever one or both the
parties make a request for use of video conference, proceedings may
be conducted on video conferencing, obviating the needs of the party
to appear in person. In several cases, this Court has directed
recording of evidence by video conferencing12
.
15. The other difficulty faced by the parties living beyond the local
jurisdiction of the court is ignorance about availability of suitable legal
services. Legal Aid Committee of every district ought to make available
selected panel of advocates whose discipline and quality can be
suitably regulated and who are ready to provide legal aid at a specified
fee. Such panels ought to be notified on the websites of the District
Legal Services Authorities/State Legal Services Authorities/National
Legal Services Authority. This may enhance access to justice
consistent with Article 39A of the Constitution.
12 State of Maharashtra etc. v. Dr. Praful B. Desai etc. (2003) 4 SCC 601; Kalyan Chandra
Sarkar v. Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav and anr. (2005) 3 SCC 284; Budhadev Karmaskar
(4) v. State of West Bengal (2011) 10 SCC 283; Malthesh Gudda Pooja v. State of Karnataka and
ors. (2011) 15 SCC 330Page 10
10
16. The advancement of technology ought to be utilized also for
service on parties or receiving communication from the parties. Every
district court must have at least one e-mail ID. Administrative
instructions for directions can be issued to permit the litigants to
access the court, especially when litigant is located outside the local
jurisdiction of the Court. A designated officer/manager of a district
court may suitably respond to such e-mail in the manner permitted as
per the administrative instructions. Similarly, a manager/
information officer in every district court may be accessible on a
notified telephone during notified hours as per the instructions. These
steps may, to some extent, take care of the problems of the litigants.
These suggestions may need attention of the High Courts.
17. We are thus of the view that it is necessary to issue certain
directions which may provide alternative to seeking transfer of
proceedings on account of inability of a party to contest proceedings at
a place away from their ordinary residence on the ground that if
proceedings are not transferred it will result in denial of justice.
18. We, therefore, direct that in matrimonial or custody matters or in
proceedings between parties to a marriage or arising out of disputes
between parties to a marriage, wherever the defendants/respondentsPage 11
11
are located outside the jurisdiction of the court, the court where
proceedings are instituted, may examine whether it is in the interest of
justice to incorporate any safeguards for ensuring that summoning of
defendant/respondent does not result in denial of justice. Order
incorporating such safeguards may be sent along with the summons.
The safeguards can be:-
i) Availability of video conferencing facility.
ii) Availability of legal aid service.
iii) Deposit of cost for travel, lodging and boarding in terms of
Order XXV CPC.
iv) E-mail address/phone number, if any, at which litigant from
out station may communicate.
19. We hope the above arrangement may, to an extent, reduce
hardship to the litigants as noted above in the Order of this Court
dated 9th January, 2017. However, in the present case since the
matter is pending in this Court for about three years, we are satisfied
that the prayer for transfer may be allowed. Accordingly, we direct that
proceedings in Case No.179A/2013 under Section 13 of the Act titled
“Harish Nagam vs. Krishna Veni Nagam” pending on the file of II
Presiding Judge, Family Court, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh shall stand
transferred to the Family Court, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. If the
parties seek mediation the transferee court may explore the possibility
of an amicable settlement through mediation. It will be open to thePage 12
12
transferee court to conduct the proceedings or record evidence of the
witnesses who are unable to appear in court by way of video
conferencing. Records shall be sent by court where proceedings are
pending to the transferee court forthwith.
20. The Registry to transmit a copy of this order to the courts
concerned. A copy of this order be sent to all the High Courts for
appropriate action.
21. We place on record our appreciation for the valuable
assistance rendered by Mr. Atmaram N.S. Nadkarni, learned
Additional Solicitor General and Mr. C.A. Sundaram, learned
Senior Advocate.
21. The transfer petition is disposed of accordingly.
…………..…………………………….J.
[ADARSH KUMAR GOEL]
.….……………………..……………..J.
[UDAY UMESH LALIT]
NEW DELHI;
MARCH 9, 2017.
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