Holding

Family Courts have jurisdiction to adjudicate property disputes between spouses even after divorce; the explanation to Section 7 must be given a liberal construction.

Summary

The husband and wife married, had children and the husband purchased properties using dowry cash and jewellery, promising to transfer them to the wife. After the husband pronounced talaq, the wife filed a suit in the Family Court under the Family Courts Act claiming ownership of the properties. The Family Court decreed in her favour, a decision affirmed by the Kerala High Court. The husband appealed to the Supreme Court, contending that the Family Court lacked jurisdiction to hear a property dispute between divorced parties and that a prior award under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act barred the suit. The Supreme Court held that Section 7 of the Family Courts Act, read with its Explanation (c), must be given a broad construction to include disputes over spouses' property irrespective of whether the marriage subsists, and that the two proceedings are distinct. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed with costs.

Issues considered

Whether the Family Court has jurisdiction to adjudicate a property dispute between parties to a marriage when one party is divorced, under Section 7 (Explanation c) of the Family Courts Act, 1984.
Whether a prior award under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, bars the suit filed in the Family Court.

Legislation cited

Subjects

Family Court jurisdictionproperty disputedivorceSection 7 Explanation cbroad constructionMuslim Women Actdowrytrustee

Judgment

A K.A. ABDUL JALEEL
\I,

T.A. SHAHIDA

APRIL IO, 2003

B [V.N. KHARE, CJ!, S.B. SINHA AND DR. AR. LAKSHMANAN, JJ.]

Family Court Act; Section 7 and Explanation thereunder:

Property dispute between parties to divorce-Jurisdiction of Family
C Court-Held: Family courts have been established for resolving marriage/
family disputes-Applying the principle of broad construction, jurisdiction of
such courts should be construed liberally-Hence parties to marriage cannot
be restricted to parties to subsisting marriage only-Family Court could resolve
property dispute of parties to divorce-Interpretation of statutes-Rules of
D construction.

Words and Phrases:

'parties to the proceedings '-Meaning of

Appellant-husband and respondent-wife were married and after the
E birth of their second child they could not pull on well and the appellant
pronounced Talaq and divorced the respondent. During continuance of
their marriage, appellant had allegedly purchased certain properties out
of the huge cash and the jewellery given as dowry. The appellant by way
of an agreement promised to transfer the said properties in favour of the
F respondent in due course. However, it was not done. Respondent filed a
suit in the Family Court claiming the disputed properties. The Court
decreed the suit in favour of the respondent, which was affirmed by the
High Court. Hence the present appeal.

It was contended for the appellant that the Family Court had no
G jurisdiction to resolve property dispute by a divorced wife; and that since
the respondent had already been awarded certain amount in a proceedings
under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, the
proceeding under the Family Act was not maintainable.

On behalf of the respondent, it was submitted that the matter has
H 498
K.A. ABDUL JALEEL v. T.A. SHAHIDA 499
attained finality with the judgment passed by the Kerala High Court; and A
that since the appellant did not challenge the same before Supreme Court,
now he could not be permitted to challenge the jurisdiction of the Family
Court.

Dismissing the appeal, the Court
B
HELD: 1.1. The Family Court was set up for settlement of family
disputes. The reason for enactment of the Family Court Act was to set up
a Court which would deal with disputes concerning the family by adopting
an approach radically different from that adopted in ordinary civil
proceedings. (502-G( c
1.2. In the instant case, the dispute between the parties to the
marriage arose out of the properties claimed by one spouse against the
other. The respondent made a categorical statement to the effect that the
properties were purchased out of the amount paid in cash or by way of
ornaments and the appellant was merely a trustee in relation thereto and D
could not have claimed any independent interest thereupon. It is also
apparent that whereas the agreement was executed on 17. 09. 1994, the
appellant pronounced Talaq on 1.11.1995. The wordings 'disputes relating
to marriage and family affairs and for matters connected therewith' must
be given a broad construction. The Statement of Objects and Reasons of E
the Act would clearly go to show that the jurisdiction of the Family Court
·extends, inter alia, in relation to properties of spouses or of either of them
which would clearly mean that the properties claimed by the parties
thereto as a spouse of other; irrespective of the claim whether property is
.~
claimed during the subsistence of a marriage or otherwise. (502-C-D-El F

1.3. It is well-settled principle of law that the jurisdiction of a Court
created specially for resolution of disputes of certain kinds should be
construed liberally. The restricted meaning if ascribed to Explanation (c)
appended to Section 7 of the Act, would frustrate the object wherefor the
Family Courts were set up. (503-A( G
Any·um Hasan Siddiqui v. Smt. Sa/ma B., AIR (1992) Allahabad 322,
distinguished.

Abdul Ja/eel v. Sahida, (1997( 1 KLT 734 and Smt. P. Jaya/akshmi and
Anr. v. V. Revichandran and Anr., AIR (1992) AP 190, referred to. H
500 ·.,,,SUPREME .COURT REPORTS (2003) 3 S.CR.

A CIVIL APPELLATE
.. JURISDICTION:
- , Civil
. Appeal
. No .. 3322 of2003.
!." ,• ' -' ' - ·- ' ' .. . l i • ' . . •, ' . '-' ''

:
From
. '
the 'Judgment
.
and Order
- ''· ; ..
Court in M.F.A. No. 196 of 1999.
. -. dated 203.2001
' ,., . . . ..
, '
.of the Kerala
- ,- ' -
_ '- ,., ·,
High
. .
_;' .
Haris Beeran and S. Udaya Kumar Sagar for the Appellant. . .
B . .. ' .. ..·'
. ,T.L.V .. Iyer, Subramonium Prasad, AbhayKumar and Gopal Krishnan,
for ~heRespondent.- · : · · · - ·- - ·: - . '. · :· .··••
•• ' . -' ' .'- .. . :- ' - -: ' ., . . . . ..· :. --. :\ '.
~ ' ' - ." '
' · The Judgment 'of the Court was dellvered by .
•! • ''. ' ' ' '" - • ' I ·~ ·. •

c S.B. SINHA, J. Leave granted.

Whether the Family Court has jurisdiction to adjudicate upon any
question relating to the properties of divorced parties' arises for consideration
in this"appeal. The said question arises out of a judgment 'and order dated
D -20.03.2001 passed by a Division Bench of the Keri>IJ High Court dismissing
·an· appeal· from· an ·order' passed by the Family Court, Emakulam, dated
2i.07.1998'in O.P. No; 343 of 1996: ... · ( · "
_;; 1/ _, ·r;'l"
· ·The parties to this appeal were married on 03. 01. 1988. A female child
was born out of their wedlock on 11. IO. 1988. Allegedly, after the birth 'of
E the second child, owing to deterioration iri the health of the respondent herein,
the relationship of the parties became strained. The respondent c~ntended
that at the time of marriage, a large amount in cash as also gold ornaments
were given. From the cash amount the appellant herein purchased a property
described in Schedule 'A' of the petition on 01.02.1988. The balance amount
F was kept by the appellant. He allegedly' further sold the gold· ornaments 'of
the respondent and out of the sale proceeds he purchased the property described
in Schedule 'B' of the petition. · · · ' · :' l
} ' ' '
In respect of properties an agreement marked Exhibit A I was executed
by the parties, in terms whereof it was agreed that the properties purchased
,G from the aforesaid amount will be transferred in the name of the respondent
by the appellant. The appellant herein pronounced Talaq on 01.11.1995 after
his relationship with the 'respondent became strained. In te~s of the said
agreement dated 17.09.1994, the respondent tiled a suit marked O.S. No .. 85
_of 1995 in the Family Court on 08.12.1995. The appellant in his written
H statement alleged that the said agreement was signed by hi~ un'der th;eat and
' ' . '' . • ': f • ' . •
K.A. ABDUL JALEEL v. T.A. SHAHIDA [SINHA, J.) 501
coercion and further contended that several documents purported to have A
been executed by him in support thereof were also obtained by applying
force.

Both the parties examined themselves as also proved various documents
in the said suit before the Family Court.
B
The Family Court by a judgment and order dated 22.07.1998 decreed
the suit in favour of the respondent herein upon arriving at a finding that she
was the absolute owner of the Schedule 'A' property as also 23/I 00 shares
in the Schedule 'B' property.

Aggrieved thereby and dissatisfied therewith, the appellant preferred an
c
appeal before the High Court which was marked as MFA No. 196of1999.
By reason of the impugned judgment dated 20.03.2001, the said appeal has
been dismissed.

Mr. Haris Beeran, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant, D
would submit that having regard to the provisions contained in Section 7 of
the Family Courts Act, 1984, the Family Court had no jurisdiction to decide
a dispute as regards properties claimed by a divorced wife. The learned
counsel would urge that the jurisdiction exercisable by any Family Court
being between the parties to a marriage which would mean parties to a E
subsisting marriage. In support of the said contention strong reliance has
been placed on a judgment of a Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court
in Amjum Hasan Siddiqui v. Smt. Sa/ma B., AIR (1992) (Allahabad) 322 and
Ponnavolu Sasidar v. Sub-Registrar, Hayatnagar and Ors., AIR (1992) (A.P.)
198.
F
Mr. T.L.V. Iyer, learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the
respondent, on the other hand, would contend that the matter is covered by
an inter-parties judgment passed by a Division Bench of the Kerala High
Court which is since reported in [1997 (I) KLT 734]. As the appellant herein
did not question the correctness of the said judgment, he cannot be permitted G
to turn round and now challenge the jurisdiction of the Family Court.

The Family Courts Act was enacted to provide for the establishinent of
Family Courts with a view to promote conciliation in, and secure speedy
settlement of, disputes relating to marriage and family affairs and for matters
connected therewith. From a perusal of the Statement of Objects and Reasons, H
it appears that the said Act, inter alia, seeks to exclusively provide within the
502 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] 3 S.C.R.
A jurisdiction of the Family Courts the matters relating to the property of the
spouses or either of them. Section 7 of the Act provides for the jurisdiction
of the Family Court in respect of suits and proceedings as referred to in the
Explanation appended thereto. Explanation (c) appended to Section 7 refers
to a suit or proceeding between the parties to a marriage with respect to the
B property of the parties or of either of them.

The fact of the matter, as noticed hereinbefore, clearlly shows that the
dispute between the parties to the marriage arose out of the properties claimed
by one spouse against the other. The respondent herein made a categorical
statement to the effect that the properties were purchased out the amount paid
C in cash or by way of ornaments and the source of consideration for purchasing
the properties described in Schedules 'A' and 'B' of the suit having been
borne out of the same, the appellant herein was merely a trustee in relation
thereto and could not have claimed any independent interest thereupon. It is
also apparent that whereas the agreement marked as Exhibit A I was executed
D on 17.09.1994, the appellant pronounced Talaq on 01.11.1995. The wordings
'disputes relating to marriage and family affairs and for matters connected
therewith' in the view of this Court must be given a broad construction. The
Statement of Objects and Reasons, as referred to herein before, would clearly
go to show that the jurisdiction of the Family Court extends, inter alia, in
relation to properties of spouses or of either of them which would clearly
E mean that the properties claimed by the parties thereto as a spouse of other;
irrespective of the claim whether property is claimed during the subsistence
of a marriage or otherwise.

The submission of the learned counsel to the effect that this Court
should read the words "a suit or proceeding between the parties to a marriage"
F as parties to a subsisting marriage, in our considered view would lead to
miscarriage of justice.

The Family Court was set up for settlement of family disputes. The
reason for enactment of the said Act was to set up a court which would deal
G with disputes concerning the family by adopting an approach radically different
from that adopted in ordinary civil proceedings. The said Act was enacted
despite the fact that Order 32A of the Code of Civil Procedure was inserted
by reason of the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1976, which
could not bring about any desired result.

H It is now a well-settled principle of law that the jurisdiction of a court
K.A. ABDUL JALEEL v. T.A. SHAH!DA (SINHA, J.] 503
created specially for resolution of disputes of certain kinds should be construed A
liberally. The restricted meaning if ascribed to Explanation (c) appended to
Section 7 of the Act, in our opinion, would frustrate the object wherefor the
Family Courts were set up.

In Amjum Hasan Siddiqui 's case (supra) an application was filed in
terms of Section 3 of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) B
Act, 1986. The question before the Allahabad High Court arose as to whether
a Family Court could deal with such a dispute. It was held that no application
could lie before the Family Court as the claim under Section 3 of the 1986
Act would neither be a suit nor a proceeding within the meaning of Section
7 of the Family Courts Act inasmuch as such an application could only be C
moved before the First Class Magistrate having requisite jurisdiction as
provided for in the Code of Criminal Procedure. The said decision, in our
opinion, cannot be said to have any application whatsoever in the instant
case.

In Smt. P. Jayalakshmi and Anr. v. V. Revichandran and Anr., AIR D
(1992) AP I 90, the Andhra Pradesh High Court was dealing with a case
under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. It was held that although
the matrimonial proceeding was moved before the Family Court, the same
could not have provided for a legal bar for the wife and the minor child for
instituting a proceeding under Section I25 of the Code of Criminal Procedure E
at Tirupathi where they were residing; as both the rights are separate.

As indicated hereinbefore, Balakrishnan, J. (as His Lordship then was)
speaking for a Division Bench in a matter arising out of a preliminary issue
on the question of jurisdiction held that the dispute over properties between
parties to a marriage cannot be confined to the parties to a subsisting marriage. p
We agree with the said view. The said decision being inter-parties and having
attained finality would operate as res judicala.

The further contention of the learned counsel appearing on behalf of
the appellant is that as the respondent had already filed an application under
Section 3 of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, G
1986, wherein an amount of Rs. 1,33,200 was awarded in her favour, the
impugned proceeding was not maintainable.

The two proceedings are absolutely separate and distinct. The impugned
judgment does not show that the said question was even argued before the H
504 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2003) 3 S.C.R.

A High Court. As indicated hereinbefore, the factual issue involved in this
appeal revolved round as to whether Exhibit AI was obtained by applying
force or undue influence upon the appellant. The said contention has been
negatived by both the Family Court as also the High Court.

We, therefore, find no merit in this appeal which is dismissed with
B costs. Counsel's fee assessed at Rs. 5,000 (Rupees Five thousand only).

S.K.S. Appeal dismissed.