Limited Scope Of Section 125 CRPC In Divorce Decrees

Within the framework of matrimonial disputes, Section 125 of the Indian Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) is a significant provision designed to provide maintenance to parents, spouses, and children who are not able to maintain themselves. However, there is controversy with regard to how this provision should be applied in the setting of divorce actions, which frequently reveals its limited application.

Scope Of Section 125 CrPC

• The Criminal Procedure Code's Section 125 provides for the maintenance of the spouse, child, and guardians. When a party summons the court under the scope of section 125 crpc, the respondent, the spouse, may be assigned to provide monthly maintenance to the wife, who is unable to care for herself.
• In order to provide support for the marriage, the husband must be able to support his partner after the divorce, and the wife cannot live adultery or independently with her partner for any valid cause. 
• The spouse won't be eligible for any type of maintenance at that moment, regardless of whether they are living apart or in common consent.
• The court must make sure that the husband has sufficient intentions to provide for his wife at the time the spouse's judgment is rendered. The court must also make sure that the divorcing spouse requires additional money to support herself after the divorce.

Why in the News?

The Allahabad High Court in the case of Rajni Rani v State of UP, held that the Court's authority under Section 125 CrPC. is restricted to matters pertaining to maintenance in matrimonial disputes, and that the Court is not permitted to enlarge the purview of this Section in order to grant a divorce decree through mutual agreement between the parties. The Court reaffirmed that jurisdiction cannot be granted by permission of the parties if it is not otherwise granted by law.

Facts of the Case:

• The second wife (Rajni Rani) of a deceased government employee (Bhojraj Singh) filed an appeal.
• She claimed that her husband's first marriage had been legally dissolved through a compromise in accordance with Section 125 of the CrPC.
• Therefore, the appeal was regarding the entitlement of pension to second wife.

The Decision by the Allahabad High Court:

• Section 125 CrPC restricts the scope of the proceedings concerning maintenance in matrimonial disputes to determining the amount of maintenance due.
• The court further declared that acquiescence to these kinds of compromises or separation agreements is meaningless in these situations. 
• It stated that the court's authority in proceedings under Section 125 CrPC is limited to making maintenance determinations.
• The bench determined that the couples' marriage could only be dissolved by a suitable decision issued by the proper court because it was governed by the terms of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

A single judge bench of the high court dismissed the second wife's complaint, stating that Section 125 of the CrPC couldn't have been applied to dissolve the legally binding union of the deceased government employee and his first wife.

The division bench maintained the single judge bench's ruling and declined to impede the first wife's ability to receive a family pension and discard the entitlement of pension to second wife.

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