M.Ramaprapha v. P.Manikandan

Madras HC24 Mar 2025TR CMP(MD)/90/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Transfer of matrimonial suits; convenience of the wife predominant and preferred; Section 24 Code of Civil Procedure; Family Court Theni to Family Court Madurai; divorce petition HMOP.No.572 of 2023 filed by husband; restitution of conjugal rights O.P.No.176 of 2024 filed by wife; Tr.C.M.P(MD)Nos.90 and 91 of 2025; CMP(MD)Nos.2223 and 2226 of 2025; Madras High Court, Madurai Bench; P.Vadamalai J.; pronounced 24.03.2025; no costs.

What did the court decide?

Withdrawal and transfer of O.P.No.572 of 2023 and O.P.No.176 of 2024 from the Family Court, Theni to the Family Court, Madurai for disposal in accordance with law; records to be transmitted within two weeks and disposal completed within six months of receipt of records; no costs; connected Miscellaneous Petitions (CMP(MD)Nos.2223 and 2226 of 2025) closed. ¶¶29

M.Ramaprapha Vs P.Manikandan — Madras HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the matrimonial proceedings pending before the Family Court, Theni — the respondent-husband's divorce petition (HMOP.No.572 of 2023 / O.P.No.572 of 2023) and the petitioner-wife's restitution-of-conjugal-rights petition (O.P.No.176 of 2024) — should be withdrawn and transferred to the Family Court, Madurai. +1 more

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Court's answer

Taking note of that settled position favouring the wife's convenience in matrimonial cases, the Court concluded that the present transfer petitions filed by the wife are to be allowed.

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Ratio / Principle

Relying on the settled propositions of law of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Court affirmed that in transfer petitions arising out of matrimonial disputes the convenience of the wife should be predominantly looked into and the wife's convenience given preference.

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Key takeaways

Both Transfer Civil Miscellaneous Petitions, Tr.C.M.P(MD)Nos.90 and 91 of 2025, were allowed, and O.P.No.572 of 2023 and O.P.No.176 of 2024 were withdrawn from the Family Court, Theni and transferred to the Family Court, Madurai for disposal in accordance with law.ratio¶¶29
The learned Judge, Family Court, Theni, was directed to transmit the entire records pertaining to O.P.No.572 of 2023 and O.P.No.176 of 2024 to the transferee Court within two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.ratio¶¶33

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Common pre-delivery order of a single judge allowing two Transfer Civil Miscellaneous Petitions filed under Section 24 of the Code of Civil Procedure by the wife (M.Ramaprapha) against her husband (P.Manikandan), moving their cross-filed matrimonial suits — the husband's divorce petition HMOP.No.572 of 2023 and the wife's restitution-of-conjugal-rights petition O.P.No.176 of 2024 — from the Family Court, Theni to the Family Court, Madurai, on the settled Supreme-Court-grounded principle that the convenience of the wife is to be predominantly looked into and given preference in matrimonial transfer disputes. The petitioner, nearing 50 and residing at Madurai with her three children without maintenance support, found travel beyond 100 km to Theni burdensome. Records to be transmitted by the Family Court, Theni within two weeks; disposal ordered at Madurai within six months; no costs; connected miscellaneous petitions closed.

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Tr.C.M.P(MD)Nos.90 and 91 of 2025

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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Reserved on : 03.03.2025 Pronounced on : 24.03.2025

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.VADAMALAI

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Tr.C.M.P(MD)Nos.90 and 91 of 2025 and CMP(MD)Nos.2223 and 2226 of 2025

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M.Ramaprapha ... Petitioner in both Tr.CMPs

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Vs.

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P.Manikandan ... Respondent in both Tr.CMPs

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COMMON PRAYER : Transfer Civil Miscellaneous Petitions filed under Section 24 of the Code of Civil Procedure, to withdraw O.P.No.572 of 2023 and O.P.No.176 of 2024 respectively, pending on the file of the Family Court, Theni and transfer the same to the file of the Family Court, Madurai.

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For Petitioner in bothl Tr.CMPs : Mr.S.Ramakrishnan

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For Respondent in both Tr.CMPs : Mr.R.Shankar Ganesh

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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Tr.C.M.P(MD)Nos.90 and 91 of 2025

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COMMON ORDER

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These Transfer Civil Miscellaneous Petitions are filed seeking for an order to withdraw the respective O.P.No.572 of 2023 and O.P.No.176 of 2024 from the file of the Family Court, Theni and to transfer the same to the file of the Family Court, Madurai.

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The petitioner herein is the wife of the respondent. The marriage between the petitioner and respondent has been solemnized on 05.09.2003 at N.S.N. Rathinavelu Saraswathi Marriage Mahal, Thenkarai, Periyakulam as per Hindu rites and customs. Out of wedlock, they were blessed with two female children and one male child, now they are studying. It is alleged that due to continuous harassment and cruelty by the respondent, the petitioner was forced to leave the matrimonial home and the petitioner along with her children are now residing with her parents at Madurai. Thereafter, the respondent filed the petition in HMOP.No.572 of 2023 before the Family Court, Theni, for divorce. The petitioner has filed O.P.No.176 of 2024 before the Family Court, Theni for restitution of conjugal rights. Therefore, the petitioner has filed these petitions for transfer of both cases to Madurai.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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Tr.C.M.P(MD)Nos.90 and 91 of 2025

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The learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner with her children were forced to leave the matrimonial home. She is now residing with her aged parents at Madurai along with her children without any means. The children are studying and out of three, one child is staying in hostel. She became a burden to her parents without any financial assistance. She finds it very difficult to travel more than 100 km to attend the Court at Theni. Moreover, the respondent has not been paying any maintenance towards the petitioner. In the above circumstances, the petitioner has filed these present Transfer Civil Miscellaneous Petitions.

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The learned counsel for the respondent filed a counter and objected the petition. The learned counsel further submitted that the respondent is taking care of all expenses and education expenses of their children. The respondent was working abroad and gave all earnings to the petitioner, but she was not maintaining the family and the respondent’s mother. She harassed the respondent in various ways. Because of the attitude of the petitioner, the respondent lodged a complaint before the Thenkarai Police Station against the petitioner and the petitioner also filed a complaint before the AWPS, Periyakulam. The respondent is diabetic patient.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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Tr.C.M.P(MD)Nos.90 and 91 of 2025

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Submissions of both side considered. The respondent and the petitioner

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are husband and wife and out of wedlock they have three children, who are studying now. Due to misunderstanding, they are living separately and it is alleged by the petitioner that she left the matrimonial home. In such circumstances, the respondent filed the petition in O.P.No.572 of 2023 for divorce and the petitioner filed O.P.No.176 of 2024 for restitution of conjugal rights. Both petitions are pending before the Family Court, Theni. It is now stated that she is depending on her parents and she finds it difficult to travel more than 100 km as she is nearing 50 years old. It is well settled proposition of law by the number of decisions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court that whenever the transfer petition is filed in matrimonial disputes, the convenience of the wife should be predominantly looked into and the wife’s convenience shall be given preference. Therefore, taking note of the settled position of the convenience of the wife in the matrimonial cases, this Court is of the view that the present petitions filed by the wife are to be allowed.

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In the result, the Transfer Civil Miscellaneous Petitions in Tr.C.M.P(MD)Nos.90 and 91 of 2025 are allowed. The petitions in O.P.No.572 of 2023 and O.P.No.176 of 2024 on the file of the Family Court, Theni are hereby withdrawn and transferred to the file of the Family Court, Madurai for

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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Tr.C.M.P(MD)Nos.90 and 91 of 2025

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disposal in accordance with law. The learned Judge, Family Court, Theni, is directed to transmit the entire records pertaining to the case in O.P.No.572 of 2023 and O.P.No.176 of 2024 to the transferee Court, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The Family Court, Madurai, is directed to take the case on file and dispose of both matters within a period of six months from the date of receipt of records. No costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.

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24.03.2025

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NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No VSD

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