Mukul Sarma vs Sabita Chakraborty
- SCC(2017) 11 SCC 390
- Neutral2016 INSC 116
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
Where a court has fixed alimony in matrimonial proceedings and a party seeks modification of the quantum on grounds of personal difficulty, the court may, while sustaining the amount awarded, restructure the payment schedule by extending the time for payment and permitting discharge by installments, having regard to the financial circumstances of the paying party. Where alimony is restructured into installments, consecutive default in payment as scheduled renders the obligor liable to proceedings for execution and also to contempt of court.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
CIVIL APPEAL NOs. 713-714 OF 2016 [@ Special Leave Petition (C) No. 5516-5517 of 2015]
MUKUL SARMA Appellant (s)
VERSUS
SABITA CHAKRABORTY Respondent(s)
J U D G M E N T
KURIAN, J.
1. Leave granted.
2. The appellant approached this Court with certain grievances regarding permanent alimony to be paid to the respondent. The High Court has directed payment of Rs. 7,00,000/- for the respondent and Rs.3,00,000/- for the child born to the appellant and the responent.
3. On service of notice on the respondent, through a Legal Aid counsel, the respondent has informed this Court that she is not in a position to go over to Delhi because of certain family circumstances.
4. Having heard the learned counsel for the appellant, we are of the view that no interference is called for as regards the amount of alimony fixed by the High Court. However, having regard to the difficulties personally faced by the appellant, it would be appropriate that the appellant is granted more time for the payment of the amount. Therefore, the payment of alimony, as directed by the High Court, is rescheduled as under :-
i) The amount of Rs. 3,00,000/- payable to the daughter shall be paid within a period of one month from today. In case, any amount has been deposited in the Family Court, the same can be duly adjusted.
ii) As far as the amount of Rs. 7,00,000/- payable to the respondent is concerned, the appellant is permitted to pay Rs. 1,00,000/- on or before 31.05.2016. Thereafter, the appellant shall pay the amount in six monthly installments of Rs. 1,00,000/- each by the end of each calender month and the whole payment shall be paid to the respondent by the end of November, 2016.
5. We make it clear that if there is any consecutive default in making the payment, as above, apart from the steps to be taken for execution, the appellant shall also be liable to answer in contempt.
6. With the above directions, the civil appeals are disposed of with no order as to costs.
.......................J. [ KURIAN JOSEPH ]
.......................J. [ ROHINTON FALI NARIMAN ]
New Delhi;
February 01, 2016.
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