Divorce given by foreign court is conclusive under Indian Law

Divorce given by foreign court is conclusive under Indian law

“Once a decree of divorce is granted by a foreign Court after the parties submit to its jurisdiction and contest the case, the marriage stands validly dissolved, the Bombay High Court has held”.

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                                                                  (1)                                      (11) WP 9356/12

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

Amk

WRIT PETITION NO. 9356 OF 2012

Kaustubh Sudhir Mestry ..  Petitioner  

Vs.

Praveena Lakshmanan ..  Respondent

Mr. A. M. Vernekar for the Petitioner.

Mr. S. J. Mishra i/b S.R.S. Legal for the Respondent.

CORAM :  MRS. ROSHAN DALVI, J.

Date :      16^th OCTOBER, 2012.

     

ORDER

1. Rule.  Made returnable forthwith.

2. The   petitioner   has  challenged   the   order   of   the  learned   Judge,

Family Court No.7 Mumbai dated 31

st

 July, 2012 dismissing his application to

dismiss the petition for restitution of conjugal rights filed by the respondent­

wife.

3. The parties married in 2006 and went to the U.S.A. in 2006.  They

lived together in the U.S.A. until 2010.  In the meantime they had disputes.

They were residing in the U.S.A.  The petitioner­husband filed the petition for

divorce on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage and also cruelty.

The wife filed a counter claim.  The parties applied for, opposed and ultimately

accepted an interim order by consent.  The parties appeared in person as also

through their respective attorneys in the Judicial District Harris County, Texas,

U.S.A.    The  interim  order  restrained  the   parties  from  entering  upon  their

respective places of residence.  The interim order directed the husband to pay

house rent, car and motor cycle loan and phone bill upto the end of July, 2010,

the order having been passed on 14

th

 July, 2010.  The parties were directed to

pay their personal debts.  There was a temporary restraint order already passed                                                                  (2)                                      (11) WP 9356/12

which both the parties agreed to continue until further orders of the Court.

The husband was directed not to do anything with the J­2 Visa of the wife until

the final decree of divorce.  The wife was directed to allow the husband to get

his books and personal belongings from their residential premises.

4. After  this interim  order was  passed  the wife  came  to  India  on

22.08.2010.   She  filed  the petition  for  restitution of conjugal  rights and an

application under  the Domestic Violence Act  against  the petitioner­husband

and his father and mother.

5. The wife instructed her attorney  to withdraw  the counter claim

and  sent emails  to  that Court  on  30.08.2010  and  31.08.2010.   Hence  the

petition for divorce filed by the husband was to proceed without the counter

claim and without her defence.   She did not appear in  the Judicial District

Harris County, Texas, U.S.A.  thereafter.    The  decree  of  divorce  came  to  be

passed.  The aforesaid interim order, therefore, merged in the final decree of

divorce.

6. Upon  the  decree of  divorce  being  granted,  the marriage  of  the

parties  stood   dissolved.     Hence   the   husband  applied  in   the   Family   Court,

Mumbai  for  dismissal  of  the  petition  of  restitution  of  conjugal  rights  as it

would not then survive.  That application has been dismissed.

7. The wife would contend that the Judicial District Harris County,

Texas, U.S.A. would  have no jurisdiction  and  the  decree  of  divorce  passed

would not become a final judgment conclusive upon both the parties.  This is

upon the premise that she did not appear before the Judicial District Harris

County,  Texas,  U.S.A.     Her   contention   is incorrect.    She   submitted  to  the

jurisdiction of the District court and argued her case on merits.  This can be

seen not only from the counter claim which was filed by her attorney but the

interim order which has been signed by herself.  The parties, therefore, agreed                                                                  (3)                                      (11) WP 9356/12

and consented to the aforesaid interim order.

8. The   wife   would   further   contend   that   she   appeared   under   the

threat of the husband that J­2 Visa would be cancelled.  That case of threat is

rather unusual.  In para 4 of her petition in the Family court she has stated that

due to mental pressure of forcible deportation on the ground that the husband

would withdraw his support so that the J­2 Visa would be cancelled and she

would be deported, she “opposed” the interim application.

9. One   would   accept   a   party   under   threat   not   to   oppose   any

application but her own admission that she opposed the application shows the

submission  to  the jurisdiction  of  that  Court.    She,  therefore,  contested  on

merits  the case of  the husband by  filing a counter claim  and opposing  the

interim application and the order came to be passed as above signed by both

the   parties.  Withdrawing   her   consent   later   after   submitting   to   the   Courts

jurisdiction does not matter.

10. She would further contend that the ground of divorce would be

different in the Courts of the U.S.A. and hence no decree of divorce can stand

in India.  That contention is also incorrect that the grounds of divorce in this

case is not only irretrievable breakdown of marriage but also cruelty which is

recognized by Courts in India.

11. The wife  would  contend  that  as  the  parties were  domiciled in

India the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 would apply.  They last resided in Mumbai,

India before they went to the U.S.A.  It was for a temporary period.  Hence

their domicile continued.   Hence only Courts in Mumbai,  India would have

jurisdiction.  This would be if the wife did not submit to the jurisdiction of any

other Court and contest the petition on merits as she did.

12. The foreign judgment obtained by the husband being the decree of

divorce is conclusive because it is pronounced by  the Court in  the State in                                                                  (4)                                      (11) WP 9356/12

which they then lived.  It has been given on the merits of the case because the

wife opposed the interim application.  It is not founded upon any breach of any

law in  force in  India because it is  for a decree of divorce inter alia on  the

ground of cruelty which is in terms of the law in force in India.  The judgment

is not ex parte since the wife submitted to the jurisdiction upon being served,

“opposed”   the   interim   reliefs   and   thereafter   instructed   her   attorney   to

withdraw   her   counter   claim   thus   withdrawing   any   defence   against   the

husband's   petition   and   knowingly   allowing   him   to   proceed   with   his   own

petition.

13. Consequently there was no protest by the wife.  There is no fraud

upon which the judgment came to be passed and the threat, if any, resulted in

her opposition in the District Court where she submitted to that jurisdiction.

Hence the judgments relied upon on her behalf  do not apply.

14. The only judgment which applies is the case of Y. Narasimha Rao

& Ors. Vs. Y. Venkata Lakshmi & Anr. (1991) 3 SCC 451.  In para 20 of that

judgment,   upon   considering   the   purview   of   conclusiveness   of   the   foreign

judgments,  the  Supreme Court laid  down  the exceptions when  the  foreign

judgments would be binding upon parties:

(1) That  the   parties  were  habitually  residing  where  the  relief  was

granted.

(2) The respondent submitted to the jurisdiction of the foreign Court

granting  the  relief  and  contested  the  claim  on  the  grounds  available

under the matrimonial law where the parties were married

and

(3) The respondent consented to the grant of relief even though it was

not in accordance with the provisions of matrimonial law of the parties.

15. In this case the parties were then habitually residing in the State

of Texas.  The respondent submitted to the jurisdiction of the Judicial District                                                                  (5)                                      (11) WP 9356/12

Court of Harris County, Texas, U.S.A.  The respondent contested the claim on

the ground of cruelty.  The respondent consented to the interim order passed

as above by signing the interim order herself and also by her attorney.   The

respondent consented to the grant of relief by that Court.

16. This   being  the  law,  the   impugned   order   of   the  learned  Judge

would deserve to be interfered with.  Though it is seen that the learned Judge

has   painstakingly   considered   the   law   relating   to   conclusiveness   of   foreign

judgments, the view taken by the learned Judge in the impugned order seen to

be erroneous.  Once the decree of divorce is granted by a foreign Court after

the   parties   submit   to   its   jurisdiction   and   after   contest   or   agreement,   the

marriage stands validly dissolved.   Nothing  further survives in the marriage.

Therefore the conjugal rights cannot be restituted and hence the petition for

conjugal   rights   or   even   any   other   petition   cannot   proceed   and   must   be

dismissed as infructuous.   It is an abuse of legal process to adjudicate upon

matters  already  decided  by  foreign  Courts  which  are  conclusive  under  the

Indian Laws.  

17. Consequently  the impugned  order of  the learned  Judge, Family

Court   No.7,  Mumbai   dated   31

st

  July,   2012   is   set   aside.     The   petition   for

restitution of conjugal rights  filed by  the wife in  the Family Court, Mumbai

itself stands dismissed.

18. Rule is accordingly made absolute.

(ROSHAN DALVI, J.)

Setting Aside Ex-Parte Divorce Decree

Setting Aside Ex-Parte Divorce Decree

ORISSA HIGH COURT

Siddharth Dixit vs Smt. Sujata Dixit on 11 August, 2010

L.MOHAPATRA, J & C.R.DASH, J.

W.P.(C) NO.14412 OF 2008 ( Decided on 11.08.2010).

SIDDHARTH DIXIT ........... Petitioner.

.Vrs.

SMT. SUJATA DIXIT ............ Opp.Party.

CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE -1908(ACTNO. 5 OF 1908) ORDER-9 RULE-13

For Petitioner - M/s. Yeesan Mohanty, B.C.Mohanty & G.N.Dash.

For Opp.party - M/s. S.K.Padhi, M.Padhi, G.Misra, & A.Das.

M/s. G.P.Dutta, M.Dutta, A.Ghose, S.K.Mohanty

& B.K.Sahoo.

L.MOHAPATRA, J. This writ application is directed against the order dated 2.9.2008 passed by the learned Judge, Family Court, Rourkela in Misc.Case No.5 of 2008 filed under Order 9, Rule 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure( in short 'C.P.C.') for setting aside the ex parte decree of divorce.

2. The petitioner and the opposite party got married on 18.2.1991 as per Hindu rites and customs at Kolkata. Both of them were blessed with two children, a son namely, Siddhant in the year 1994 and a daughter namely, Shraddha in the year 1999. There were differences between both of them during this period and subsequently the relationship became such that they had to remain away from each other. The petitioner thereafter filed Civil Proceeding No.227 of 2005 in the court of the learned Judge, Family Court, Rourkela seeking for divorce. Notice was issued to the opposite party but, the same could not be served. Thereafter, steps for service of notice as provided under Order 5, Rule 20 C.P.C. were taken and in spite of paper publication, the opposite party having not appeared in the case, an ex parte

decree of divorce was passed on 9.3.2006. After waiting for the appeal period, the petitioner contracted second marriage with another woman. The opposite party coming to know about the ex parte decree, filed Misc.Case No.5 of 2008 before the learned Judge, Family Court, Rorurkela under Order 9, Rule 13 C.P.C. to set aside the ex parte decree. In the impugned order, the learned Judge, Family Court having set aside the ex parte decree, this writ application has been filed challenging the same.

3. As it appears from the discussion made by the learned Judge, Family Court in paragraphs 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the impugned order, after filing of the Civil Proceeding, notice was issued to the opposite party, who was staying at Kolkata then. Notice could not be served due to want of time and an application was filed by the petitioner for substituted service under Order 5, Rule 20 C.P.C.. The said petition having been allowed, notice was published in the 'Times of India'. In spite of publication of notice, opposite party having not appeared, an ex parte decree was passed by the court. In the application filed under Order 9, Rule 13 C.P.C., the learned Judge, Family Court came to hold that there was no material before the court to come to a conclusion that the opposite party was avoiding service of notice on her and in absence of such a finding, the application filed by the petitioner under Order 5, Rule 20 could not have been allowed and, therefore, the substituted service made by the petitioner by way of paper publication cannot be held to be a valid service of notice and, accordingly, the ex parte decree of divorce is liable to be set aside.

4. Shri Yeesan Mohanty, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner assailed the impugned order stating that after the ex parte decree was passed, the petitioner waited for the appeal period to be over and, thereafter married for the second time. Under these circumstances, application under Order 9, Rule 13 C.P.C. could not have been allowed and the only course open to the opposite party was to pray for permanent alimony. In this connection, reliance is placed by the learned Senior Counsel on a decision of the Allahabad High Court in the case of S.P.Srivastva Vrs. Smt. Premlata Srivastava reported in A.I.R. 1980 Allahabad 336. In the said reported case, the husband filed a suit for divorce under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act. The suit was decreed ex parte on 2.6.1973. The wife filed an application under Order 9, Rule 13 C.P.C. on 15.4.1976 for setting aside the ex parte decree on the allegation that she had never been served with summons on divorce petition. The husband had contracted a second marriage with another woman on 14.4.1976. The trial court having allowed the application filed by the wife under Order 9, Rule 13 C.P.C., the matter was brought before the High Court. The High Court on consideration of different orders passed by the trial court came to a finding that there were some irregularities in service of summons but that would not be a ground for setting aside the ex parte decree and allowed the revision.

5. Though the above decision is silent about the submission of Shri Y. Mohanty, learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner that the only option available to the opposite is to claim for permanent alimony, another decision of Rajasthan High Court supports such a submission. In the case of Surrender Kumar Vrs. Kiran Devi reported in AIR 1997 Rajasthan 63, it was held that after an ex parte decree of divorce is passed, if the husband has contracted a second marriage after expiry of appeal period, the petition filed under Order 9, Rule 13 C.P.C. at the instance of the wife is not maintainable and the wife can file an application under Section 25 of the Hindu Marriage Act claiming permanent alimony.

6. Shri Dutta, learned counsel appearing for the opposite party submitted that the first notice issued by the court admittedly was not served on the opposite party. The subsequent publication of notice in the 'Times of India' in pursuance of an order passed by the court for substituted service was on a date on which the opposite party was in China and, therefore, had no scope to know about publication of such notice. This submission of the learned counsel, Shri Dutta was seriously opposed by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner. There is no material before us to show that on the date of publication of notice in the 'Times of India', opposite party was in China. This point was also never taken before the trial court and had such a point been taken, the parties would have been directed to adduce evidence in this regard. Therefore, we decline to entertain a disputed question of fact raised for the first time in this writ application.

7. So far as finding of the learned Judge, Family Court in setting aside the ex parte decree is concerned, we are of the view that such a finding is not sustainable. Admittedly, notice could not be served on the opposite party on the first occasion due to want of time. Therefore, an application was filed by the petitioner under Order 5, Rule 20 C.P.C. and permission having been granted by the court, notice was published in a widely distributed English Newspaper. The court being satisfied with regard to compliance of requirement of Order 5 Rule 20 C.P.C., had permitted the petitioner to take steps for substituted service by way of publication in a widely distributed English Newspaper. Therefore, it is not open for the trial court now to say that grant of permission to the petitioner at that stage was not justified. The ex parte order has not been set aside in any other ground by the trial court in the impugned order.

8. For the reasons stated above, we are of the view that the ground on which the trial court has set aside the ex parte decree is not sustainable and, accordingly, the impugned order is set aside. The petitioner may approach the trial court in an application under Section 25 of the Hindu Marriage Act for permanent alimony in view of the changed circumstances and in the event, such an application is filed, the trial court shall permit the parties to adduce evidence and determine the permanent alimony on the basis of such evidence.

The writ application is accordingly disposed of.

Writ petition disposed of

EX-PARTE DIVORCE DECREE

Ex-Parte Divorce Decree on the basis of refusal of Court Notice/Summon , sent by the court to wife by various mode and several times.

Supreme Court of India

Parimal vs Veena @ Bharti on 8 February, 2011

Bench: P. Sathasivam, B.S. Chauhan

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO...1467... OF 2011

(Arising out of S.L.P.(C) NO. 19632 of 2007)

Parimal ... Appellant Versus

Veena @ Bharti ...Respondent J U D G M E N T

Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. This appeal has been preferred against the judgment and order dated 17.7.2007, passed by the High Court of Delhi at New Delhi, in FAO No.63 of 2002, by which the High Court has allowed the application under Order IX Rule 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (hereinafter called CPC), reversing the judgment and order dated 11.12.2001, passed by the Additional District Judge, Delhi.

3. FACTS:

(A) Appellant got married to the respondent/wife on 9.12.1986 and out of the said wed lock, a girl was born. The relationship between 1

 the parties did not remain cordial. There was acrimony in the marriage on account of various reasons. Thus, the appellant/husband filed a case for divorce on 27.4.1989, under section 13(1)(i-a) and (i-b) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, against the respondent/wife. (B) Respondent/wife refused to receive the notice of the petition sent to her by the Court on 4.5.1989 vide registered AD cover for the date of hearing on 6.7.1989. Respondent/wife on 28.6.1989 was present at her house when the process server showed the summons to her. She read the same and refused to accept it. Refusal was reported by the process server, which was proved as Ex.OPW1/B. (C) Again on 7.8.1989, she refused to accept the notice for 8.9.1989, sent by the Court through process server. The Court ordered issuance of fresh notices. One was issued vide ordinary process and the other vide Registered AD cover for 8.9.1989. Registered AD was returned to the Court with report of refusal, as she declined to receive the AD notice. Under the Court's orders, summons were affixed at the house of the respondent/wife, but she chose not to appear.

(D) She was served through public notice on 6.11.1989 published in the newspaper `National Herald' which was sent to her address, 3/47, 2

 First Floor, Geeta Colony, Delhi. This was placed on record and was not rebutted by the respondent/wife in any manner. (E) After service vide publication dated 8.11.1989 as well as by affixation, respondent/wife was proceeded ex- parte in the divorce proceedings. Ex-parte judgment was passed by Addl. District Judge, Delhi on 28.11.1989 in favour of the appellant/husband and the marriage between the parties was dissolved.

(F) Two years after the passing of the decree of divorce, on 16.10.1991, the appellant got married and has two sons aged 17 and 18 years respectively from the said marriage.

(G) The respondent, after the expiry of 4 years of the passing of the ex-parte decree of divorce dated 28.11.1989, moved an application dated 17.12.1993 for setting aside the same basically on the grounds that ex-parte decree had been obtained by fraud and collusion with the postman etc., to get the report of refusal and on the ground that she had not been served notice even by substituted service and also on the ground that even subsequent to obtaining decree of divorce the appellant did not disclose the fact of grant of divorce to her during the proceedings of maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter called Cr.P.C.). The said 3

 application under Order IX, Rule 13 CPC was also accompanied by an application under Section 5 of the Indian Limitation Act, 1963, for condonation of delay.

(H) The trial Court examined the issues involved in the application at length and came to the conclusion that respondent/wife miserably failed to establish the grounds taken by her in the application to set aside the ex-parte decree and dismissed the same vide order dated 11.12.2001.

(I) Being aggrieved, respondent/wife preferred First Appeal No.63 of 2002 before the Delhi High Court which has been allowed vide judgment and order impugned herein. Hence, this appeal. RIVAL SUBMISSIONS:

4. Shri M.C. Dhingra, Ld. counsel appearing for the appellant has submitted that the service stood completed in terms of statutory provisions of the CPC by the refusal of the respondent to take the summons. Subsequently, the registered post was also not received by her as she refused it. It was only in such circumstances that the trial Court entertained the application of the appellant under Order V, Rule 20 CPC for substituted service. The summons were served by publication in the daily newspaper `National Herald' published from 4

 Delhi which has a very wide circulation and further service of the said newspaper on the respondent/wife by registered post. The High Court committed a grave error by taking into consideration the conduct of the appellant subsequent to the date of decree of divorce which was totally irrelevant and unwarranted for deciding the application under Order IX, Rule 13 CPC. More so, the High Court failed to take note of the hard reality that after two years of the ex-parte decree the appellant got married and now has two major sons from the second wife. Therefore, the appeal deserves to be allowed and the judgment impugned is liable to be set aside.

5. On the contrary, Ms. Geeta Dhingra, Ld. counsel appearing for the respondent/wife has vehemently opposed the appeal, contending that once the respondent/wife made the allegations of fraud and collusion of the appellant with postman etc. as he succeeded in procuring the false report, the burden of proof would be upon the appellant and not upon the respondent/wife to establish that the allegations of fraud or collusion were false. The conduct of the appellant even subsequent to the date of decree of divorce, i.e. not disclosing this fact to the respondent/wife during the proceedings under Section 125 Cr.P.C., disentitles him from any relief before this 5

 court of equity. No interference is required in the matter and the appeal is liable to be dismissed.

6. We have considered the rival submissions made by learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.

7. Order IX, R.13 CPC:

The aforesaid provisions read as under:

"Setting aside decree ex-parte against defendant In any case in which a decree is passed ex-parte against a defendant, he may apply to the Court by which the de- cree was passed for an order to set it aside; and if he sat- isfies the Court that the summons was not duly served, or that he was prevented by any sufficient cause from appearing when the suit was called on for hearing, the Court shall make an order setting aside the decree as against him upon such terms as to costs, payment into Court or otherwise as it thinks fit, and shall appoint a day for proceeding with the suit; xx xx xx Provided further that no Court shall set aside a decree passed ex-parte merely on the ground that there has been an irregularity in the service of summons, if it is satisfied that the defendant had notice of the date of hearing and had sufficient time to appear and answer the plaintiff's claim.

xx xx xx" (Emphasis added)

8. It is evident from the above that an ex-parte decree against a 6

 defendant has to be set aside if the party satisfies the Court that summons had not been duly served or he was prevented by sufficient cause from appearing when the suit was called on for hearing. However, the court shall not set aside the said decree on mere irregularity in the service of summons or in a case where the defendant had notice of the date and sufficient time to appear in the court.

The legislature in its wisdom, made the second proviso, mandatory in nature. Thus, it is not permissible for the court to allow the application in utter disregard of the terms and conditions incorporated in the second proviso herein.

9. "Sufficient Cause" is an expression which has been used in large number of Statutes. The meaning of the word "sufficient" is "adequate" or "enough", in as much as may be necessary to answer the purpose intended. Therefore, word "sufficient" embraces no more than that which provides a platitude which when the act done suffices to accomplish the purpose intended in the facts and circumstances existing in a case and duly examined from the view point of a reasonable standard of a cautious man. In this context, "sufficient cause" means that party had not acted in a negligent manner or there 7

 was a want of bona fide on its part in view of the facts and circumstances of a case or the party cannot be alleged to have been "not acting diligently" or "remaining inactive". However, the facts and circumstances of each case must afford sufficient ground to enable the Court concerned to exercise discretion for the reason that whenever the court exercises discretion, it has to be exercised judiciously. (Vide: Ramlal & Ors. v. Rewa Coalfields Ltd., AIR 1962 SC 361; Sarpanch, Lonand Grampanchayat v. Ramgiri Gosavi & Anr., AIR 1968 SC 222;Surinder Singh Sibia v. Vijay Kumar Sood, AIR 1992 SC 1540; and Oriental Aroma Chemical Industries Limited v. Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation & Another, (2010) 5 SCC 459)

10. In Arjun Singh v. Mohindra Kumar & Ors., AIR 1964 SC 993, this Court observed that every good cause is a sufficient cause and must offer an explanation for non-appearance. The only difference between a "good cause" and "sufficient cause" is that the requirement of a good cause is complied with on a lesser degree of proof than that of a "sufficient cause". (See also: Brij Indar Singh v. Lala Kanshi Ram & Ors., AIR 1917 P.C. 156; Manindra Land and Building Corporation Ltd. v. Bhutnath Banerjee & Ors., AIR 8

 1964 SC 1336; and Mata Din v. A. Narayanan, AIR 1970 SC 1953).

11. While deciding whether there is a sufficient case or not, the court must bear in mind the object of doing substantial justice to all the parties concerned and that the technicalities of the law should not prevent the court from doing substantial justice and doing away the illegality perpetuated on the basis of the judgment impugned before it. (Vide: State of Bihar & Ors. v. Kameshwar Prasad Singh & Anr., AIR 2000 SC 2306; Madanlal v. Shyamlal, AIR 2002 SC 100; Davinder Pal Sehgal & Anr. v. M/s. Partap Steel Rolling Mills (P) Ltd. & Ors., AIR 2002 SC 451; Ram Nath Sao alias Ram Nath Sao & Ors. v. Gobardhan Sao & Ors., AIR 2002 SC 1201; Kaushalya Devi v. Prem Chand & Anr. (2005) 10 SCC 127; Srei International Finance Ltd., v. Fair growth Financial Services Ltd. & Anr., (2005) 13 SCC 95; and Reena Sadh v. Anjana Enterprises, AIR 2008 SC 2054).

12. In order to determine the application under Order IX, Rule 13 CPC, the test has to be applied is whether the defendant honestly and sincerely intended to remain present when the suit was called on for hearing and did his best to do so. Sufficient cause is thus the cause for 9

 which the defendant could not be blamed for his absence. Therefore, the applicant must approach the court with a reasonable defence. Sufficient cause is a question of fact and the court has to exercise its discretion in the varied and special circumstances in the case at hand. There cannot be a strait-jacket formula of universal application. PRESUMPTION OF SERVICE BY REGISTERED POST & BURDEN OF PROOF:

13. This Court after considering large number of its earlier judgments in Greater Mohali Area Development Authority & Ors. v. Manju Jain & Ors., AIR 2010 SC 3817, held that in view of the provisions of Section 114 Illustration (f) of the Evidence Act, 1872 and Section 27 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 there is a presumption that the addressee has received the letter sent by registered post. However, the presumption is rebuttable on a consideration of evidence of impeccable character. A similar view has been reiterated by this Court in Dr. Sunil Kumar Sambhudayal Gupta & Ors. v. State of Maharashtra, JT 2010 (12) SC 287.

14. In Gujarat Electricity Board & Anr. v. Atmaram Sungomal Poshani, AIR 1989 SC 1433, this Court held as under: "There is presumption of service of a letter sent 1

 under registered cover, if the same is returned back with a postal endorsement that the addressee refused to accept the same. No doubt the presumption is rebuttable and it is open to the party concerned to place evidence before the Court to rebut the presumption by showing that the address mentioned on the cover was incorrect or that the postal authorities never tendered the registered letter to him or that there was no occasion for him to refuse the same. The burden to rebut the presumption lies on the party, challenging the factum of service."

(Emphasis added)

15. The provisions of Section 101 of the Evidence Act provide that the burden of proof of the facts rests on the party who substantially asserts it and not on the party who denies it. In fact, burden of proof means that a party has to prove an allegation before he is entitled to a judgment in his favour. Section 103 provides that burden of proof as to any particular fact lies on that person who wishes the court to believe in its existence, unless it is provided by any special law that the proof of that fact shall lie on any particular person. The provision of Section 103 amplifies the general rule of Section 101 that the burden of proof lies on the person who asserts the affirmative of the facts in issue.

PRESENT CONTROVERSY:

1

16. The case at hand is required to be considered in the light of the aforesaid settled legal propositions. The trial Court after appreciating the entire evidence on record and pleadings taken by the parties recorded the following findings:

"The applicant/wife as per record was served with the notice of the petition, firstly, on 4.5.89 when she had refused to accept the notice of the petition vide registered AD cover for the date of hearing i.e. 6.7.89 and thereafter on 7.8.89 when again she refused to accept the notice for 8.9.89 and thereafter when the notice was published in the newspaper `National Herald' on 6.11.89. The UPC Receipt dated 6.11.89 vide which the newspaper `National Herald' dated 6.11.89 was sent to the respondent/applicant at her address 3/47, First Floor, Geeta Colony, Delhi is on record and has not been rebutted in any manner.

In these circumstances, the application u/o 9 Rule 13 CPC filed by the respondent/applicant/wife on 7.1.1994 is hopelessly barred by time and no sufficient ground has been shown by the applicant/wife for condoning the said inordinate delay."

17. So far as the High Court is concerned, it did not deal with this issue of service of summons or as to whether there was "sufficient cause" for the wife not to appear before the court at all, nor did it set aside the aforesaid findings recorded by the trial Court. The trial Court has dealt with only the aforesaid two issues and nothing else. 1

 The High Court has not dealt with these issues in correct perspective. The High Court has recorded the following findings: "The order sheets of the original file also deserve a look. The case was filed on 1.5.1989. It was ordered that respondent be served vide process fee and Regd. AD for 6.7.1989. The report of process server reveals that process server did not identify the appellant and she was identified by the respondent himself. In next date's report appellant was identified by a witness. The Retd. AD mentions only one word "refused". It does not state that it was tendered to whom and who had refused to accept the notice. The case was adjourned to 8.9.1989. It was recorded that respondent had refused to take the notice. Only one word, "Refused" appears on this registered envelope as well. On 8.9.1989 itself it was reported that respondent had refused notice and permission was sought to move an application under Order 5 Rule 20 of CPC. On 8.9.1989, application under Section 5 Rule 20 CPC was moved and it was ordered that the appellant be served through "National Herald". The presumption of law if any stands rebutted by the statement made by the appellant because she has

stated that she was staying in the said house of her brother for a period of eight months. The version given by her stands supported by the statement made by her brother."

(Emphasis added)

18. The High Court held that presumption stood rebutted by a bald statement made by the respondent/wife that she was living at different address with her brother and this was duly supported by her brother 1

 who appeared as a witness in the court. The High Court erred in not appreciating the facts in the correct perspective as substituted service is meant to be resorted to serve the notice at the address known to the parties where the party had been residing last. (Vide Rabindra Singh v. Financial Commissioner, Cooperation, Punjab & Ors., (2008) 7 SCC 663).

19. More so, it is nobody's case that respondent/wife made any attempt to establish that there had been a fraud or collusion between the appellant and the postman. Not a single document had been summoned from the post office. No attempt has been made by the respondent/wife to examine the postman. It is nobody's case that the "National Herald" daily newspaper published from Delhi did not have a wide circulation in Delhi or in the area where the respondent/wife was residing with her brother. In such a fact-situation, the impugned order of the High Court becomes liable to be set aside.

20. The appellate Court has to decide the appeal preferred under Section 104 CPC following the procedure prescribed under Order XLIII, Rule 2 CPC, which provides that for that purpose, procedure prescribed under Order XLI shall apply, so far as may be, to appeals 1

 from orders. In view of the fact that no amendment by Delhi High Court in exercise of its power under Section 122 CPC has been brought to our notice, the procedure prescribed under Order XLI, Rule 31 CPC had to be applied in this case. .

21. Order XLI, Rule 31 CPC provides for a procedure for deciding the appeal. The law requires substantial compliance of the said provisions. The first appellate Court being the final court of facts has to formulate the points for its consideration and independently weigh the evidence on the issues which arise for adjudication and record reasons for its decision on the said points. The first appeal is a valuable right and the parties have a right to be heard both on question of law and on facts. (vide: Moran Mar Basselios Catholicos & Anr. v. Most Rev. Mar Poulose Athanasius & Ors., AIR 1954 SC 526; Thakur Sukhpal Singh v. Thakur Kalyan Singh & Anr., AIR 1963 SC 146;Santosh Hazari v. Purshottam Tiwari, AIR 2001 SC 965; Madhukar v. Sangram, AIR 2001 SC 2171; G. Amalorpavam & Ors. v. R.C. Diocese of Madurai & Ors., (2006) 3 SCC 224; Shiv Kumar Sharma v. Santosh Kumari, (2007) 8 SCC 600; and Gannmani Anasuya & Ors. v. 1

 Parvatini Amarendra Chowdhary & Ors., AIR 2007 SC 2380).

22. The first appellate Court should not disturb and interfere with the valuable rights of the parties which stood crystallised by the trial Court's judgment without opening the whole case for re-hearing both on question of facts and law. More so, the appellate Court should not modify the decree of the trial Court by a cryptic order without taking note of all relevant aspects, otherwise the order of the appellate Court would fall short of considerations expected from the first appellate Court in view of the provisions of Order XLI, Rule 31 CPC and such judgment and order would be liable to be set aside. (Vide B.V. Nagesh & Anr. v. H.V. Sreenivassa Murthy, JT (2010) 10 SC 551).

23.In view of the aforesaid statutory requirements, the High Court was duty bound to set aside at least the material findings on the issues, in spite of the fact that approach of the court while dealing with such an application under Order IX, Rule 13 CPC would be liberal and elastic rather than narrow and pedantic. However, in case the matter does not fall within the four corners of Order IX, Rule 13 CPC, the court has no jurisdiction to set aside ex-parte 1

 decree. The manner in which the language of the second proviso to Order IX, Rule 13 CPC has been couched by the legislature makes it obligatory on the appellate Court not to interfere with an ex-parte decree unless it meets the statutory requirement.

24. The High Court has not set aside the material findings recorded by the trial Court in respect of service of summons by process server/registered post and substituted service. The High Court failed to discharge the obligation placed on the first appellate Court as none of the relevant aspects have been dealt with in proper perspective. It was not permissible for the High Court to take into consideration the conduct of the appellant subsequent to passing of the ex-parte decree. More so, the High Court did not consider the grounds on which the trial Court had dismissed the application under Order IX, Rule 13 CPC filed by the respondent/wife. The appeal has been decided in a casual manner.

25. In view of the above, appeal succeeds and is allowed. The judgment and order dated 17.7.2007 passed by the High Court of Delhi in FAO No. 63 of 2002 is set aside and the judgment and order of the trial Court dated 11.12.2001 is restored. 1

 Before parting with the case, it may be pertinent to mention here that the court tried to find out the means of re-conciliation of the dispute and in view of the fact that the appellant got married in 1991 and has two major sons, it would not be possible for him to keep the respondent as a wife. A lump sum amount of Rs. 5 lakhs had been offered by Shri M.C. Dhingra, Ld. counsel for the appellant to settle the issue. However, the demand by the respondent/wife had been of Rs. 50 lakhs. Considering the income of the appellant as he had furnished the pay scales etc., the court feels that awarding a sum of Rs. 10 lakhs to the wife would meet the ends of justice as a lump sum amount of maintenance for the future. The said amount be paid by the appellant to the respondent in two equal instalments within a period of six months from today. The first instalment be paid within three months.

.............................J.

(P. SATHASIVAM)

.............................J.

(Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN)

New Delhi,