M. Venkatachalapathy
v.
Saroja Alias Thangammal
(High Court Of Judicature At Madras)
Civil Revision Petition No. 2400 Of 1980 | 27-11-1980
2. No doubt, the petitioner has come forward with a case that the respondent suffers from a deformity known as infantile uterus which renders her incapable of leading a normal married life. The petitioner has to establish that the condition of the respondent was responsible for her having left the petitioner since April, 1973. In the course of the proceedings before the trial Court, the petitioner did not take any steps whatever either for examining the doctors or even by a. King for a medical examination of the respondent. Indeed, as has been pointed out by the learned District Judge, the definite stand that was taken by the petitioner was that he was not going to examine any of the doctors. Though the learned counsel for the petitioner would attempt to explain that this statement was made by the petitioner in a different context, a perusal of the evidence of the petitioner indicates that he was not anxious to let in any medical evidence with reference to the alleged deformity of his wife, the respondent herein. In that state of affairs, the petitioner should be taken to have not established that his wife, the respondent herein, is having infantile uterus and therefore, he would not be entitled to the relief prayed for by him. It is only to cover up this lacuna a that the petitioner has come forward with the present application. The Court below was justified in treating this application as a frivolous application especially when, the petitioner had an opportunity to 1st in medical evidence to establish the condition of the respondent as claimed by him; but did not do so.
3. In addition, there is another insurmountable difficulty in the way of the petitioner. Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure cannot be resorted to for the purpose of compelling a perso to under go a medical examination. Indeed, the Courts have consistently declined to permit the medical examination of a party to the proceedings.
In Polayarpu Venkateswaralu minor by guardian and mother, Huramappa v. Polayarapu Subbayya1, Raghava Rao, J., had occasion to consider whether it is open to the Court to direct a party to appear before Court in order to enable a medical expert to take blood sample for testing the same with a view to decide the question of legitimacy. It was pointed oat that there is no provision either in the Code of Civil Procedure or in the Indian Evidence Act which provides for a test of that type and that if a party is unwilling to offer bis blood for a test of this kind, he cannot be forced to do so. In this view, the order of the Court below directing the medical examination of the blood sample was set aside. In Ramanathan Chettiar v. Chinna Lakshmi Achi2, Rajagopala Ayyangar, J., had occasion to consider whether the Court has power to compel a party to be examined by a doctor against! her consent. The learned Judge held that the Court has no power to compel a medical test on a human being without his or consent apart from a statute which clothes the Court with such power and section 151 of the Civil Procedure Code has no application to such a case. The learned Judge, however, added that it is open to the Court to draw any adverse inference against a party who refused to examine himself or herself. In Pulayarthi Sreeramamurthi. v. Pulayarthi Lakshmikantam and another3, Umamaheswaram, J., considered the question whether by an order of Court a party can be compelled to undergo medical examination. After considering the relevant cases, the learned Judge concluded that in the absence of any statutory provision compelling the medical examination of a party and restricting the enjoyment of personal liberty of that person, it is not right to rely upon the general or inherent powers of the Court under section 151, Civil Procedure Code to achieve that purpose. In Krishnamurthi Ayyar v. Govindaswami Pillai and another1, Natesan, J , had to consider the question whether an election Court dealing with an election dispute under the Panchayats Act can order compulsory medical examination of a person who figured as a party to those proceedings. The learned Judge observed that it is the birth right of a man to claim that there shall be no trespass to his person unless provided by law and there is no warrant in the Code of Civil Procedure for an order for compulsory medical examination of a party against his wish. These decisions, therefore, lay down that a person in the position of the respondent cannot be directed to be examined medically against her wish. Since the respondent has opposed the application of the petitioner and had also denied the defects in her, it is clear that any medical examination, if ordered, would only be against her wish, which as stated earlier, cannot be done. Though the Court below has not proceeded on this ground, yet, the dismissal of the application by the learned District Judge could be sustained on this ground as well. There is absolutely nothing illegal or irregular in the order of the Court below dismissing the application filed by the petitioner That order is perfectly correct and justified and deserves to be upheld. This Civil Revision Petition fails and is dismissed with costs.
Revision petition dismissed.
Advocates List
For the Petitioner R.G. Rajan, S. Ethiraj and D, Sekhar, Advocates. For the Respondent K. Raman and R. Sitaraman, Advocates.
For Petitioner
- Shekhar Naphade
- Mahesh Agrawal
- Tarun Dua
For Respondent
- S. Vani
- B. Sunita Rao
- Sushil Kumar Pathak
Bench List
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V. RATNAM
Eq Citation
(1981) 1 MLJ 440
AIR 1981 MAD 349
LQ/MadHC/1980/438
HeadNote
Family and Personal Laws — Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 — Ss. 13(1)(b) and 13(2) — Decree of divorce — Desertion — Petitioner's application for direction to respondent wife to appear in Court and submit herself to medical examination by a competent medical expert, dismissed — Grounds of assertion put forth by petitioner not established — Respondent wife not having any physical deformity at all — Held, petitioner should be taken to have not established that his wife, respondent herein, is having infantile uterus and therefore, he would not be entitled to relief prayed for by him — In addition, there is another insurmountable difficulty in the way of petitioner — S. 151 CPC cannot be resorted to for purpose of compelling a person to undergo a medical examination — Respondent wife cannot be directed to be examined medically against her wish — Civil Procedure Code, 1908 — S. 151 — Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 — Ss. 53 and 54 — Medical examination of a party to proceedings — When can be ordered