 M. Janaki v. K.

VairamuthuMadras High CourtFeb 29, 2016

M. Janaki v. K. Vairamuthu
Smart Summary (Beta)
Background

The appellant filed a petition seeking relief under Section 13(1)(i-a) of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 to dissolve her marriage. However, the
petition was rejected by the Family Court, Tirunelveli.

Contentions

The appellant filed a Civil Miscellaneous Appeal under Rule 19 of the Family Court's Act to set aside the order dated 09.04.2015 made
in unnumbered H.M.O.P No. of 2015 on the file of the Family Court, Tirunelveli.

Decision

The Civil Miscellaneous Appeal stands allowed and the order of the Court below dated 09.04.2015 is set aside. The Family Court,
Tirunelveli is directed to number the H.M.O.P filed by the appellant, if otherwise, in order and proceed further in accordance with law.

Reasoning

The Court noted that neither the marriage invitation nor photograph has been filed and that there is no evidence to show the person in the
photograph produced, was the petitioner's husband. The conditions for a Hindu marriage are informed in Section 5 of the Hindu Marriage
Act, 1955. As defined in Majority Act, 1875, a minor either male or female, attains the age of majority on completing eighteen years of
age.

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 JUDGMENT
 ORIGINAL PDF

M. JANAKI V. K. VAIRAMUTHU

PRAYER: Civil Miscellaneous Appeals filed under Rule 19 of the Family Court's Act, praying to set
aside the order dated 09.04.2015 made in unnumbered H.M.O.P No. of 2015 on the file of the Family
Court, Tirunelveli.
JUDGMENT

C.T Selvam, J.:— This Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is preferred against the rejection of a petition moved
by the appellant, seeking relief under Section 13(1)(i-a) of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

2. The petitioner informed of being the wife of respondent, they having married on 02.06.1995, their
being the parents of 2 children and of the respondent picking up vices and treating her cruelly. On such
contentions, she sought dissolution of her marriage.

3. In passing the order under challenge, the Court below has observed that the Aadhar Card of the
petitioner informed her year of birth as 1979 and since the date of marriage was informed to be
02.06.1995, the petitioner, on such date, would have been a minor, aged 16 years. It further noted that
neither the marriage invitation nor photograph has been filed and that there is no evidence to show the
person in the photograph produced, was the petitioner's husband. Referring to settlement dated
29.06.2009, the Court below informed that the same informed the belief of the settlor that the settlee
would reside with him and attend to his needs throughout his life time. On such reasoning, the Court
below thought it fit to reject the petition, giving rise to this Civil Miscellaneous Appeal.

4. Even at the stage of admission, there has been representation on behalf of the respondent through
counsel and to the effect that the petitioner and respondent had entered upon marriage and that the
petitioner was then a minor. Such submission of learned counsel for respondent has been placed on
record.

5. The present case provides an opportunity to clarify a position vis-a-viz, marriages involving a
minor/child, and we proceed to do so.

6. The conditions for a Hindu marriage are informed in Section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
Section 5(3) places requirement that the bridegroom should have been completed aged of 21 years and the
bride 18 years at the time of marriage. Noteworthy it is that the breach of such condition does not render
the marriage void under Section 11 or voidable under Section 12. Even in Section 13, which informs the
grounds on which the divorce may be sought, the only provision relatable to age is to be found in Section
13(2)(iv) viz.

“that her marriage (whether consummated or not) was solemnized before she attained the age of fifteen
years and she has repudiated the marriage after attaining the age but before attaining the age of eighteen
years.”

7. Section 2(a) of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 defines a child thus:
“child” means a person who, if a male, has not completed twenty-one years of age, and if a female, has
not completed eighteen years of age;

8. Though Section 15 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 informs offences there against to be
cognizable and non-bailable, Section 3 makes provision for avoidance of marriage by contracting party,
who was a child at the time thereof, through filing a petition for annulling the marriage by such party. The
same is reproduced hereunder:

“Child marriages to be voidable at the option of contracting party being a child.-(1) Every child marriage,
whether solemnised before or after the commencement of this Act, shall be voidable at he option of the
contracting party who was a child at the time of marriage:

Provided that a petition for annulling a child marriage by a decree of nullity, may be filed in the district
court only by a contracting party to the marriage who was a child at the time of the marriage.

(2) If at the time of filing a petition, the petitioner is a minor, the petition may be filed through his or her
guardian or next friend along with the Child Marriage Prohibition Officer.

(3) The petition under this section may be filed at any time but before the child filing the petition
completes two years of attaining majority.

(4) While granting a decree of nullity under this section, the district court shall make an order directing
both the parties to the marriage and their parents or their guardians to return to the other party, his or her
parents or guardian, as the case may be, the money, valuables, ornaments and other gifts received on the
occasion of the marriage by them from the other side, or an amount equal to the value of such valuables,
ornaments, other gifts and money:

Provided that no order under this section shall be passed unless the concerned parties have been given
notices to appear before the district court and show cause why such order should not be passed.”

9. In Full Bench judgment of this Court in T. Sivakumar v. Inspector of Police, Thiruvallur Town Police
Station (FB) reported in AIR 2012 Madras 62, it has been observed thus:

“56.A plain reading of sub-section (3) would reflect that a petition under the above Section may be filed
at any time but before the child completes two years of attaining majority. When does a child attain the
age of majority is not expressly defined in the Act. However, Section 2(f) of the Prohibition of Child
Marriage Act denies the term ‘minor’ which reads as follows:-

‘2(f) ‘minor’ means a person who, under the provisions of the Majority Act, 1875 (9 of 1875) is to be
deemed not to have attained his majority’
As defined in Majority Act, 1875, a minor either male or female, attains the age of majority on
completing eighteen years of age. Keeping in mind the same, if we again look into sub-section (3) of
section 3 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, the anomaly in the Act will emerge to light. In the
case of a female, as per sub-section (3) since she attains the age of majority on completing the age of
eighteen years, there can be no difficulty in understanding of the said provision to say that a petition for
annulment should be filed within two years of attaining majority, i.e before completing twenty years of
age. But, in the case of a male, any marriage solemnised before he completes the age of twenty one years
is a child marriage and the same is voidable. Therefore, he can be expected to file a petition for annulment
within two years after attaining the age of twentyone years. But, sub-section (3) reads that such petition
should be filed when he completes two years of attaining majority which means before completing twenty
years of age. For example, if the child marriage of a male takes place on his completing twenty years of
age and if a literal interpretation is given to sub-section (3) of the Prohibition of Child Marriage
Act, surely, he will not be in a position to file a petition to annul the marriage. Such literal interpretation
in the case of a male would create anamalous situation. It is too well settled that no provision of any law
shall be interpreted in such a way to make it either anamalous or unworkable.

Therefore, in our considered opinion, sub-section (3) of section 3 shall be read that in the case of a male, a
petition for annulment of child marriage shall be filed before he completes two years of attaining twenty-
one years of age. We are hopeful that the Parliament will take note of the above anomaly and make
necessary amendment to sub-section (3) to avoid any more complication.”

10. Reverting to the order under challenge, it is apparent that the Court below was under the mistaken
impression of a marriage involving a child being void. It also is seen that the other reasons for rejection
reflect a most presumptuous view on considerations, which are matters for trial. We may also observe that
a presumption of marriage may arise even on proof of prolonged cohabitation.

11. In the result, this Civil Miscellaneous Appeal stands allowed. The order of the Court below dated
09.04.2015 is set aside. The Family Court, Tirunelveli is now directed to number the H.M.O.P filed by
the appellant, if otherwise, in order and proceed further in accordance with law. The Registry is directed
to return the original petition for being represented before the Court below. No costs.