Alteration in allowance
Full Text
(1) On proof of a change in the circumstances of any person, receiving, under section 144 a monthly allowance for the maintenance or interim maintenance, or ordered under the same section to pay a monthly allowance for the maintenance, or interim maintenance, to his wife, child, father or mother, as the case may be, the Magistrate may make such alteration, as he thinks fit, in the allowance for the maintenance or the interim maintenance, as the case may be.
(2) Where it appears to the Magistrate that in consequence of any decision of a competent Civil Court, any order made under section 144 should be cancelled or varied, he shall cancel the order or, as the case may be, vary the same accordingly.
(3) Where any order has been made under section 144 in favour of a woman who has been divorced by, or has obtained a divorce from, her husband, the Magistrate shall, if he is satisfied that— (a) the woman has, after the date of such divorce, remarried, cancel such order as from the date of her remarriage; (b) the woman has been divorced by her husband and that she has received, whether before or after the date of the said order, the whole of the sum which, under any customary or personal law applicable to the parties, was payable on such divorce, cancel such order; (c) the woman has obtained a divorce from her husband and that she had voluntarily surrendered her rights to maintenance or interim maintenance, as the case may be, after her divorce, cancel the order from the date thereof.
(4) At the time of making any decree for the recovery of any maintenance or dowry by any person, to whom a monthly allowance for the maintenance and interim maintenance or any of them has been ordered to be paid under section 144, the Civil Court shall take into account the sum which has been paid to, or recovered by, such person as monthly allowance for the maintenance and interim maintenance or any of them, as the case may be, in pursuance of the said order.
Plain English Summary
Section 146 allows for the modification or cancellation of maintenance orders due to changes in circumstances or Civil Court decisions, and outlines conditions for cancelling maintenance for divorced women.
Key Legal Elements
- Power of Magistrate to alter maintenance amounts due to change in circumstances
- Mandatory adjustment of orders following relevant Civil Court decisions
- Cancellation of maintenance for divorced women upon remarriage
- Effect of receiving customary/personal law divorce settlements on maintenance orders
- Requirement for Civil Courts to credit sums already paid under Section 144
Practical Note
This section ensures that maintenance orders remain equitable over time. For example, if a husband loses his job or a wife starts earning significantly more, an alteration can be sought.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) धारा 144 के तहत भरण-पोषण या अंतरिम भरण-पोषण प्राप्त करने वाले या भुगतान करने वाले किसी भी व्यक्ति की परिस्थितियों में बदलाव का सबूत मिलने पर, मजिस्ट्रेट भत्ते में ऐसा बदलाव कर सकता है जैसा वह उचित समझे।
(2) यदि किसी सक्षम सिविल कोर्ट के निर्णय के परिणामस्वरूप धारा 144 के तहत किए गए आदेश को रद्द या परिवर्तित किया जाना चाहिए, तो मजिस्ट्रेट तदनुसार आदेश को रद्द या परिवर्तित करेगा।
(3) यदि तलाकशुदा महिला के पक्ष में आदेश दिया गया है, तो मजिस्ट्रेट आदेश रद्द कर देगा यदि: (क) महिला ने पुनर्विवाह कर लिया है; (ख) उसने अपने व्यक्तिगत कानून के तहत देय पूरी राशि प्राप्त कर ली है; या (ग) उसने स्वेच्छा से अपने भरण-पोषण के अधिकारों को छोड़ दिया है।
(4) किसी सिविल कोर्ट द्वारा भरण-पोषण या दहेज की वसूली के लिए डिक्री देते समय, धारा 144 के तहत भुगतान की गई राशि को ध्यान में रखा जाएगा।