Legal Reference Library

Observing that the ‘Protection of Women from Domestic Violence (PWDV) Act does not override personal laws completely’, a Delhi court has reduced the interim relief granted to a Muslim widow from Rs.30,000 to 15,000 per month. Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Bansal reduced the relief amount saying payment of the previous amount would amount to payment of maintenance, which is not permissible under the law. The widow had sought interim monetary relief from her father-in-law and brother-in-law ( jeth ) alleging that they tortured her and her three children physically and mentally, besides taking over her husband’s shop after his death. A Metropolitan Magistrate had earlier asked her in-laws to pay Rs. 30,000 per month to her as expenses for her children and herself. The in-laws, however, challenged the order before the Sessions Judge. “It is well settled that under Muslim Law there is no obligation upon the father-in-law to maintain the widow and children of his deceased son. The p...

A hiba of an undivided share in property which is capable of division is invalid. Exceptions to the rule are: where the gift is made by one co-heir to the other; where the gift is of share in a zamindari or taluka; where gift is of a share in freehold property in a large commercial town, and where gift is of share in a land company. While gift of immovable property is not complete unless the donor parts with the possession and donee enters into possession but if the property is in occupation of tenants, gift can be completed by delivery of title deed or by request to tenants to attorn to the donee or by mutation. Gift of property which is capable of division is irregular but can be perfected and rendered valid by subsequent partition or delivery. [Khursida Begum v. Mohd. Farooq, (2016) 4 SCC 549]