Kapil Kumar v. Sujata Teotia

SUDHIR SINGH,  J.   (ORAL)

¶1The present appeal has been preferred against the judgment and decree dated 06.01.2024, passed by the learned Principal Judge, Family Court, Panchkula, whereby the divorce petition filed by appellant (husband) under Section 13 of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, has been dismissed.

¶2In the course of arguments, learned counsel for appellant has produced Terms of Settlement dated 22.04.2024 in Court today itself, which was arrived at between the parties before the Mediator, Mediation and Conciliation Centre of this Court and the same is taken on record, subject to all just exceptions. The relevant extract of aforesaid terms of settlement are as under :- "6. Both the parties have agreed to party their ways on the following terms and conditions :- a) Both the parties have agreed that the petition FAO-951-2024  (O/M)  -2-2024:PHHC:067382-DB under Section 13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act for grant of divorce by mutual consent shall be filed   by   both   the   parties   on   or   before

30.04.2024 in competent Court of Jurisdiction at   Panchkula   (Haryana)   and   the   first party/husband   shall   inform   the   second party/wife regarding the date and time for the purpose to file the aforesaid petition.  Both the parties have also agreed to co-operate to each other regarding filing the petition under Section 13B of Hindu Marriage Act. b) The first party/husband undertakes to pay full and   final   maintenance   of   Rs.   45,00,000/-(Rupees Forty Five Lacs only) to the second party   (wife),   who   accepts   the   same.     This amount is towards the permanent alimony of the second   party/wife   covering   her   entire   past arrears,   present   and   future   maintenance allowances.  This amount would be payable by the   first   party/husband   in   four   instalments, which are as under :-

i) The first party/husband has agreed to pay first instalment of Rs. 5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lacs only) to the second party/wife in the shape of Demand Draft at the time of first motion hearing fixed by the Family Court, Panchkula in the petition under Section 13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act.

ii) The   first   party/husband   has   further agreed to pay second instalment of               Rs. 10,00,000/-   (Rupees   Ten   Lacs   only)   to   the second party/wife in the shape of Demand Draft FAO-951-2024  (O/M)  -3-2024:PHHC:067382-DB on or before 30.05.2024.

iii) The   first   party/husband   has   further agreed   to   pay   third   instalment   of Rs. 10,00,000/- (Rupees Ten Lacs only) to the second party/wife in the shape of Demand Draft on or before 30.06.2024.

iv) The   first   party/husband   has   further agreed   to   pay   fourth/final   instalment   of Rs. 20,00,000/- (Rupees Twenty Lacs only) to the second party/wife in the shape of Demand Draft at the time decree of divorce granted by the Family Court, Panchkula in the petition under Section 13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act. It has also been agreed and consented by both the parties that they will appear before the Family Court in the petition under    Section 13B of Hindu Marriage Act   at   the   time   of   recording   their respective statements and as and when their presence would be required by the Family   Court   for   recording   their statements in the aforesaid context.

v) Both the parties have agreed that during the   pendency   of   the   above-referred   divorce proceedings, the first party/husband and his family   members   shall   file   a   petition   for quashing of the FIR No. 37 dated 12.03.2019 registered at Police Station Women, Panchkula under Section 498-A, 323, 406, 506 IPC before the Hon'ble Punjab and Haryana High Court at Chandigarh   on   the   basis   of   the   present settlement/compromise and it  has also  been FAO-951-2024  (O/M)  -4-2024:PHHC:067382-DB agreed between the parties that before filing the quashing   petition   prior   intimation   shall   be given by the first party/husband for the purpose to complete all the legal formalities from the second party/wife.  It has also been agreed by the second party/wife that she will not make any objection in case this Hon'ble High Court quash the   aforesaid   FIR   on   the   basis   of   present settlement   and   also   make   herself   available before the Hon'ble High Court or any other competent Court for the purpose to make her statement for quashing of FIR. c) The second party/wife herself and on behalf of her brothers has also agreed and consented that she and her brothers will withdraw all the cases/complainants/applications   which   are depicted in foregoing para No. 1 (I) (i) to (vii) and further agreed that they will not proceed with the misc. applications mentioned in para No. 1 (I) (viii) and (ix) in terms of the present settlement/agreement. d) Reciprocally, the first party/husband has also consented and agreed that in case the second party/wife   and   her   family   members   file quashing petitions for setting aside the FIRs mentioned in para No. 1 (II) (i) & (ii) before the competent Court of Jurisdiction in the State of Uttar   Pradesh,   then   the   first   party/husband shall   have   no   objection   rather   make   the statement (s) before the Hon'ble Court as and when   required,   in   terms   of   the   present settlement/agreement. FAO-951-2024  (O/M)  -5-2024:PHHC:067382-DB e) In addition to the aforesaid, FIR cases, the first party/husband has agreed to withdraw all the cases which have been instituted by him against the   second   party/wife   and   her   relatives   as detailed in para No. 1 (II) (i) to (iv) and agree not to pursue the misc. application/complaint mentioned in para        no. 1 (II) (v) and (vi). f) That the second party/wife shall not claim any maintenance, permanent alimony any right in the property from the first party/husband and his family members in future. g) Both the parties to the dispute have agreed to withdraw all the applications/complaints filed against each other and their family members before any competent authority, if any, pending, which are not in the knowledge of either of the party.

¶7By signing this Settlement/Agreement, the parties hereto state that they have no further claims or demands against  each  other with respect to the suit/claim/proceedings filed by either of the parties and all the disputes and differences in this regard have been amicably settled by the parties hereto through the process of Conciliation/Mediation and shall not institute any other case against each other with reference to the present dispute/claim against each other.

¶8That the parties undertake before the Hon'ble Court to abide by the terms and conditions set out in the settlement/agreement and not to dispute the same hereinafter in future and no party shall file any further litigation against each other arising out of the FAO-951-2024  (O/M)  -6-2024:PHHC:067382-DB present matrimonial dispute.   It has been mutually agreed by both the parties that if any complaint/case is   pending   before   any   competent   court   of law/authority, which is not in the knowledge of either of the parties shall also stand withdrawn.

¶9Both   the   parties   have   agreed   that   if   the   first party/husband   backs   out   from   the   terms   of   the present settlement, the amount so paid by the first party/husband   shall   be   forfeited   and   the  second party/wife is at liberty to take recourse of law.  In the same manner, if the second party/wife backs out from any terms of the present settlement, then in that case, she is liable to return the amount along with interest which she has received and the first party/husband is at liberty to take recourse of law as available to him.

¶10That the parties to this agreement hereby state that they   have   read   the   agreement,   that   they   have understood the contents thereof and their execution of agreement is voluntary.   Each party has relied upon or has had the opportunity to seek legal advice of their counsel.

¶11With the execution of this agreement, each signatory acknowledges   receipt   of   fully   executed duplicate/original of this settlement/agreement.

¶12That it has been further agreed between the parties that in case of necessity, both the parties shall be free to present the copy of the above compromise before any authority or Court if the same is required to witness the execution of the compromise or to settle any pending controversy between the parties.

¶13The contents of this agreement have been read over and explained to them in their own language and FAO-951-2024  (O/M)  -7-2024:PHHC:067382-DB they have understood the same and in token of its acceptance, both the parties have put their signatures in presence of their witnesses.

¶14Self attested photo copies of Aadhar Cards of both the parties are attached herewith."

¶3In terms of aforesaid settlement, arrived at between the parties, learned counsel for appellant seeks permission to withdraw the instant appeal.

¶4Permission accorded.

¶5The instant appeal is dismissed as withdrawn.

¶6All pending application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of. (SUDHIR SINGH) JUDGE (HARSH BUNGER) JUDGE

14.05.2024

FAO-951-2024 (O/M) -1- 2024:PHHC:067382-DB IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH FAO-951-2024 (O/M) Date of decision : 14.05.2024 Kapil Kumar ....... Appellant Versus Sujata Teotia ...... Respondent CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR SINGH HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARSH BUNGER Present :- Mr. Gaurav Arora, Advocate for appellant. -.- -.-