Second appeal challenging the dismissal of an application to set aside an ex parte matrimonial decree. The court held that since the decree holder did not contest the decree during the husband's lifetime and mediation was referred, the legal heirs cannot challenge it after his death. Appeal dismissed.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.MUHAMED MUSTAQUE &
THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE SOPHY THOMAS THURSDAY, THE 15TH DAY OF JUNE 2023 / 25TH JYAISHTA, 1945 MAT.APPEAL NO. 171 OF 2023
IANO.2020/2019INOP541/2014OFTHEFAMILYCOURT,ALAPPUZHA
APPELLANTS/PETITIONERSINIA(LEGALHEIRSOFTHEORIGINAL
RESPONDENTINOP:
1 BABY, AGED 60 YEARS, SIST./O. GEORGE OUSEPH AND D/O. OUSEPH THAIPARAMBIL, JOBY NIVAS, MAYITHARA.P.O., KANJIKKUZHY VILLAGE, CHERTHALA TALUK, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT, PIN - 688539.2 ANNAMMA, AGED 57 YEARS, SIST./O. GEORGE OUSEPH AND D/O. OUSEPH THAIPARAMBIL, PALLICKATHAYYIL, PATHIRAPPALLY.P.O., PATHIRAPPALLY VILLAGE, AMBALAPPUZHA TALUK, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT, PIN - 688521.3 JESSY, AGED 53 YEARS, SIST./O. GEORGE OUSEPH AND D/O. OUSEPH THAIPARAMBIL, VADAKKUMPARAMPIL, PATHIRAPPALLY.P.O., PATHIRAPPALLY VILLAGE, AMBALAPPUZHA TALUK, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT, PIN - 688521.4 LUCIAMMA, (DIED), AGED 62 YEARS, SIS/O. GEORGE OUSEPH AND D/O OUSEPH THAIPARAMBIL, MAVILATHAYYIL, PATHIRAPPALLY.P.O, PATHIRAPPALLY VILLAGE, AMBALAPUZHA TALUK, ALAPPUZHA, PIN - 688521.BYADVS.
B.PRAMOD
BIJUVIGNESWAR
MATHEWP.V
ASWATHISURESH
AYYAPPADASV
RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT/PETITIONERINOP:
MERCY,AGED53YEARS,D/O.JAMES,PUTHENPURACKAL,OMANAPPUZHA.P.O.,
PATHIRAPPALLYVILLAGE,AMBALAPPUZHATALUK,ALAPPUZHADISTRICT-688521.
BY ADV. AZAD BABU R
THISMATRIMONIALAPPEALHAVINGCOMEUPFORADMISSIONON
15.06.2023,THECOURTONTHESAMEDAYDELIVEREDTHEFOLLOWING:
Mat.AppealNo.171/2023
2
J U D G M E N T
A.Muhamed Mustaque, J.
Thisappealhasbeenpreferredchallenginganorder
dismissinganapplicationtosetasidetheexpartedecree.The
expartedecreewaspassedasearlyason20.07.2015asagainst
oneGeorgeOuseph,whoisnomore.Themarriagebetweenthedecree
holderandGeorgeOusephwasdissolvedasperthedecreeinOP
No.65of2013.Thedecreeholderre-marriedanotherpersonon
25.01.2015.Themonetaryclaimraisedbythedecreeholderwas
againstherformerhusbandGeorgeOuseph.Theexecutionpetition
wasfiledasearlyasintheyear2016,bywayofE.P.No.18of
2016.Thatappearstohavebeendismissedfordefault.Asseen
fromtheimpugnedorderitself,therewereseveralpostingsand
partieswerealsoreferredtomediation.
2.GeorgeOusephdiedintheyear2018.Thereafter,his
othersiblingsapproachedthecourtforsettingasidetheexparte
decree.Thiswasfiledonlyon13.12.2019.Thishasbeen
dismissedbytheimpugnedorder.Challengingtheimpugnedorder,
thisappealhasbeenpreferred.
3.Accordingtothelearnedcounselfortheappellants,
legalheirscametoknowabouttheexpartedecreeonlyafterthe
Mat.AppealNo.171/2023
3
deathofGeorgeOusephandtherefore,sufficientcausehasbeen
showntosetasidetheexpartedecree.Itistobenotedthat
whenGeorgeOusephwasalive,hehadnotchosentofilean
applicationtosetasidetheexpartedecree.Thelearnedcounsel
fortheappellantsexplanationwasthathewasbedridden.However,
wenotethattheexecutionpetitionwasfiledintheyear2016and
partieswerealsoreferredtomediation.Whentherewasno
attempttocontestduringthelifetimeofGeorgeOuseph,hislegal
heirscannotnowcomeforwardafterhisdeathtoraiseachallenge
againsttheexpartedecree.Insuchcircumstances,weaffirmthe
impugnedorder.
Appealstandsdismissedinlimine.
Sd/-
A.MUHAMED MUSTAQUE JUDGE
Sd/-
SOPHYTHOMAS
JUDGE
DSV/15.6.23
2 issues framed by the court
Whether the execution of a matrimonial decree can be set aside in favor of the legal heirs of the deceased former husband after he failed to contest it during his lifetime.
Whether sufficient cause is shown to set aside an ex parte decree passed against the deceased husband.
BABY
ANNAMMA
JESSY
LUCIAMMA
MERCY
A. MUHAMED MUSTAQUE
SOPHY THOMAS
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court