Pankaj Devi v. Sanjay Kumar

Punjab & Haryana HC23 Feb 2026TA/106/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Keywords: transfer application; matrimonial dispute; wife's convenience; Section 9 Hindu Marriage Act; Section 25 Guardians and Wards Act; custody of minor children; child with hearing impairment; Unique Disability ID; Charkhi Dadri to Rewari transfer; Punjab and Haryana High Court; TA-106-2025; TA-220-2025; DMC/127/2023; GW/06/2024; DV/113/2023; DMC/117/2023.

What did the court decide?

Both transfer applications allowed; DMC/127/2023 (S.9 Hindu Marriage Act petition) and GW/06/2024 (S.25 Guardians and Wards Act custody petition) transferred from the Courts at Charkhi Dadri to the Court of competent jurisdiction at Rewari; requisite record to be sent by the Charkhi Dadri Courts to the District and Sessions Judge, Rewari, who shall assign the petitions; parties directed to appear before the concerned Court within one month. ¶¶30

Pankaj Devi Vs Sanjay Kumar — Child Custody and Guardianship | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the petition under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act (DMC/127/2023) pending in the Courts at Charkhi Dadri should be transferred to the Court of competent jurisdiction at Rewari (TA-106-2025). +1 more

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Court's answer

Both transfer applications (TA-106-2025 and TA-220-2025) are allowed; the petition under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act, DMC/127/2023, titled 'Sanjay Kumar Vs. Pankaj Devi', stands transferred from the Courts at Charkhi Dadri to the Court of competent jurisdiction at Rewari.

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Ratio / Principle

The petition under Section 25 of the Guardians and Wards Act, GW/06/2024, titled 'Sanjay Kumar Vs. Pankaj', likewise stands transferred from the Courts at Charkhi Dadri to the Court of competent jurisdiction at Rewari.

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Key takeaways

In adjudicating matrimonial transfer applications, multiple factors are relevant; in this case the most weighing and relevant factor was that the two sons born of the estranged marriage are in the care and custody of the applicant/wife, more particularly the elder son, who is about 15 years old and has hearing impairment to the extent of 82% (per the Unique Disability ID, Annexure P-5 in TA-220-2025), so that single-handed parenting poses several challenges even though the applicant is a working woman; it was accordingly just and expedient to accept the applications.ratio¶¶24

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Transfer Applications (Punjab & Haryana HC, Chandigarh; Archana Puri, J.; decided 23.02.2026) — Pankaj Devi (wife/applicant) sought transfer to Rewari of two cases pending at Charkhi Dadri: her husband Sanjay Kumar's petition under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act (DMC/127/2023) and his custody petition under Section 25 of the Guardians and Wards Act (GW/06/2024). Held, allowing both applications: the decisive factor was that the two sons (aged 8-15) are in the applicant's sole care and custody, especially the elder son Akash, about 15 years old, with 82% hearing impairment evidenced by a Unique Disability ID certificate (Annexure P-5 in TA-220-2025); single-handedly parenting such a child while residing about 75 kms from Charkhi Dadri posed several challenges, notwithstanding the applicant being a working woman (Multi-purpose Health Worker, General Hospital, Rewari). Related litigations — the domestic violence petition DV/113/2023 and divorce petition DMC/117/2023 — were already pending at Rewari. Both petitions stand transferred to the Court of competent jurisdiction at Rewari; record to be sent to the District and Sessions Judge, Rewari, and parties to appear before the concerned Court within one month.

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TA-106-2025 AND TA-220-2025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

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Sr. No.109 (2 cases)

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Date of Decision: 23.02.2026 1. TA-106-2025 PANKAJ DEVI ....Applicant Versus SANJAY KUMAR .....Respondent 2. TA-220-2025 PANKAJ DEVI ....Applicant Versus SANJAY KUMAR .....Respondent

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CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ARCHANA PURI Present:Ms. Ritu Manohar, Legal Aid Counsel for the applicant (in TA-106-2025). Mr. Ankit Gupta, Advocate for the applicant (in TA-220-2025). Mr. Sumit Sangwan, Advocate for the respondent (in both the cases).

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SONU 2026.02.24 09:10 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

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TA-106-2025 AND TA-220-2025

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ARCHANA PURI, J. (Oral)

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These are two applications, filed by Pankaj Devi-applicant/wife, for seeking transfer of the litigation, pending between the parties to the lis.

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TA-106-2025 has been filed for seeking transfer of the petition under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act i.e. DMC/127/2023, titled ‘Sanjay Kumar Vs. Pankaj Devi’, filed by the respondent-husband.

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TA-220-2025 has been filed for seeking transfer of the petition under Section 25 of the Guardians and Wards Act i.e. GW/06/2024, titled ‘Sanjay Kumar Vs. Pankaj’ , filed by the respondent-father (husband of the applicant), thereby seeking custody of the children, born from the wedlock of the parties.

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Both the aforesaid cases are pending in the Courts at Charkhi Dadri and the applicant seeks transfer of the same to the Court of competent jurisdiction at Rewari.

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In pursuance of the notice issued, respondent made appearance through counsel in both the applications. Reply was filed by the respondent in TA-106-2025. However, today vide separate statement, got recorded by the counsel for the respondent, the said reply was also adopted in TA-2202025.

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Counsel for the parties heard.

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At the very outset, it is submitted by the counsel for the applicant that the marriage between the parties to the lis, had taken place on 13.02.2005. Two sons born from the said wedlock, who are in the age group of 8-15 years, are in the care and custody of the applicant. The elder son,

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SONU namely, Akash, is deaf and is having 82% hearing impairment, for which 2026.02.24 09:10 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

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TA-106-2025 AND TA-220-2025

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even the Unique Disability ID certificate, has been issued, under the signatures of Civil Surgeon, Rewari. The applicant is a matriculate and she has done ANM course and she is working as a Multi-purpose Health Worker, in General Hospital, Rewari. On account of taking care of two children, more specifically, of the disabled child, it is submitted that it is difficult for the applicant, to pursue the litigation, pending at Charkhi Dadri, which is at a distance of about 75 kms. from the place of her residence.

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On the other hand, counsel for the respondent, while making reference to the reply, submits that the present application has been filed, only to cause harassment to the respondent. In fact, it is submitted that the applicant is a working lady and therefore, she is also financially independent. As such, she can very well pursue the litigation, even if it remains pending at Charkhi Dadri.

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In view of the submissions aforesaid, it is pertinent to mention that while adjudicating on the transfer applications, relating to the matrimonial dispute, various factors ought to be taken into consideration. In the case in hand, the most weighing and relevant factor is about the two sons born from the estranged marriage, to be in the care and custody of the applicant/wife, more particularly, the elder son, who is about 15 years old and is having hearing impairment to the extent of 82%, which is spelt out from the Unique Disability ID, copy where is Annexure P-5 in TA-220-2025. In such circumstances, even though, the applicant is a working woman, but however, while doing parenting singularly, more particularly, considering the ailment of the elder child and that too considering his age, several challenges

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must be faced by the applicant.

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SONU 2026.02.24 09:10 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

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TA-106-2025 AND TA-220-2025

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Also, it is pertinent to mention that besides the litigation, which is sought to be transferred, two other litigations i.e. the petition under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act i.e. DV/113/2023 and the divorce petition i.e. DMC/117/2023, are already pending in the Courts at Rewari and the respondent is pursuing both the said cases.

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In view of the aforesaid fact situation, it is just and expedient to accept the applications. Hence, both the transfer applications i.e. TA-1062025 and TA-220-2025 are hereby allowed and the petition under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act i.e. DMC/127/2023, titled ‘Sanjay Kumar Vs. Pankaj Devi’, as well as, the petition under Section 25 of the Guardians and Wards Act i.e. GW/06/2024, titled ‘Sanjay Kumar Vs. Pankaj’ , stand transferred from the Courts at Charkhi Dadri, to the Court of competent jurisdiction at Rewari. The requisite record of the aforesaid cases be sent by the Courts at Charkhi Dadri, to the District and Sessions Judge, Rewari.

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Learned District and Sessions Judge, Rewari, shall assign the said petitions to the Court(s) of competent jurisdiction at Rewari. Even, the parties are directed to appear before the concerned Court, within a period of one month from today onwards.

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(ARCHANA PURI) 23.02.2026 JUDGE Himanshu Vats

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Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes Whether reportable : Yes/No

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SONU 2026.02.24 09:10 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

Pankaj Devi v. Sanjay Kumar

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Pankaj Devi v. Sanjay Kumar

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

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