2018 PLP 407 (MLD)
Mst. TAHIRA and 4 others — Petitioners Versus MUHAMMAD IRFAN and another — Respondents
| Citation | 2018 PLP 407 (MLD) |
| Forum / Court | Peshawar |
| Bench Members | Shakeel Ahmad, J |
| Parties | Mst. TAHIRA and 4 others — Petitioners Versus MUHAMMAD IRFAN and another — Respondents |
| Primary Law | Family Courts Act (XXXV of 1964) |
Q1: What are the key laws and sections cited in 2018 PLP 407 (MLD)?
This judgment primarily cites: Family Courts Act (XXXV of 1964) as referenced in Pakistani case law index.
Q2: Which judicial bench decided the case 2018 PLP 407 (MLD)?
The case was heard and decided by the Peshawar bench comprising: Shakeel Ahmad, J.
Q3: What is the official citation format for this judgment on Pakistan Law Portal?
Cite this legal precedent as: 2018 PLP 407 (MLD) (Mst. TAHIRA and 4 others — Petitioners Versus MUHAMMAD IRFAN and another — Respondents). Read the full summary and cross-referenced laws free on Pakistan Law Portal.
Laws Cited
Representation
- Barkat Ullah Khan for Petitioner.
- None for Respondent.
Headnotes / Summary
Ss. 5, Sched. & 17-A
Suit for maintenance allowance of minors
Denial of paternity by father
Effect
Family Court accepted the application of the plaintiff/mother for interim maintenance allowance only to the extent of one minor
Scope
Constitutional petition against interim order
Petitioner/mother contended that Trial Court should have granted interim maintenance allowance to all the five minors and that interim maintenance allowance granted to one minor be enhanced
Record revealed that the father had denied the paternity of other minors in his written statement as well as in reply of application for interim maintenance by contending that the said minors were the children of petitioner from her first husband
Since the paternity of the said minors had specifically been denied by the father/respondent, therefore, the question of minors being lawful issues of the respondent/father and whether they were entitled for maintenance allowance could only be resolved after recording for and against evidence, being question of fact
Respondent/father had also disputed the legitimacy of the minor to whom maintenance was being paid on the ground that the plaintiff had contracted yet another marriage without obtaining divorce from him, however, Trial Court had rightly held that there was nothing on the record to support the stance of respondent/father rather the photo copy of Form-B appended with the plaint showed that the said minor was entered as his daughter
Interim maintenance allowance had been fixed by Trial Court temporarily which could obviously be modified later and that was not a final order adversely affecting the minor
Interim order could not be interfered in constitutional petition, the same was dismissed accordingly.
Judgment & Decree
SHAKEEL AHMAD, J.
Through this Constitutional petition the petitioners have assailed the impugned order dated 25.04.2017 of the Judge Family Court-IV, Peshawar and seek the following relief:- "It is, humbly prayed that by accepting the instant writ petition, the impugned order of the learned trial Court dated 25.04.2017 may kindly be modified to the extent that the interim maintenance amount fixed by the learned trial Court for the petitioner No.5 may kindly be enhanced upto Rs.25,000/- instead of Rs.5000/-. Besides this, the interim maintenance for the petitioners Nos.2 to 4 at rate of Rs.25000/- each may also be allowed till the final disposal of the suit. Any other relief not specifically prayed so far but deemed fit may also be granted in favor of the petitioners/plaintiffs against the respondent/defendant."
2. The facts, in nutshell are that the petitioners have filed a suit for recovery of dower, educational documents of the petitioner No.1, recovery of Rs. 12/- lacs, given to the respondent/ defendant by the petitioner/plaintiff No.1 as credit, maintenance @ Rs.25000/- for herself and minors. The petitioners submitted an application under section 17-A of the Family Courts Act, 1964 for granting interim maintenance to the petitioners Nos.2 to
5. The learned trial Court vide order dated 25.04.2017 directed the respondent to pay maintenance allowance to petitioner No.5 Zara Fatima at the rate of Rs.5000/- per month to be paid to the minor petitioner on 14th of each month, failing which right of defense of the respondent No.1 shall be struck off to the extent of maintenance allowance for the minor and a decree shall also be passed to that effect, however, the petitioners Nos.2 to 4 were refused interim maintenance, hence this petition before this Court.
3. Perusal of record reveals that the respondent No.1 has denied the paternity of the petitioners Nos.2 to 4 in his written statement as well as in reply to the application for interim maintenance by contending that the petitioners Nos.2 to 4 are the children of petitioner/plaintiff No. 1 from her first husband namely Mirza Muhammad Ayub Baig. Since the paternity of the petitioners Nos.2 to 4 has specifically been denied by the respondent No.1 in his written statement, therefore the question whether the petitioners Nos.2 to 4 are lawful issues of the defendant/respondent No.1 and are entitled for interim maintenance allowance can only be resolved after recording pro and contra evidence and subject to proof. Even otherwise disputed question of facts cannot be investigated while exercising the constitutional jurisdiction of this Court, it is incumbent upon the party seeking constitutional remedy to show that such party had a clear right and that such right is so clear as not to admit a reasonable doubt or controversy. Though the respondent No.1 had also disputed the legitimacy of petitioner No.5 on the ground that the petitioner No.1 had contracted second marriage with one Mirza Muhammad Ayub Baig without obtaining divorce from him. It was rightly held by the learned trial Court that there is nothing on the record to support this stance of respondent No.1. The photo copy of form-B appended with the plaint shows that the minor petitioner No.5 namely Zara Fatima is entered as daughter of Muhammad Irfan.
4. The impugned order is an interim decision. Maintenance has been fixed at the rate of Rs.5000/- for petitioner No.5 temporarily which can obviously be modified latter. It is not a final order adversely affecting the petitioner No.5. This Court does not want to prejudice proceedings by commenting upon the claim of the petitioners. However, it is held that interim order in the kind cannot be interfered with in a writ petition like this.
5. In the present, the judgment being provisional shall be revisited by the Court at the time of making final decision.
6. The above discussion leads to the obvious conclusion that the impugned order does not warrant any interference of this Court, therefore, this writ petition being bereft of merit, is dismissed in limine. MQ/188/P Petition dismissed.