Section 21 A of Hindu Marriage Act 1955: Power to transfer petitions in certain cases
Power to transfer petitions in certain cases Hindu Marriage Act 1955
21-A. Power to transfer petitions in certain cases.-(1)Where-
(a) a petition under this Act has been presented to a District Court having
jurisdiction by a party to marriage praying for a decree for a judicial separation
under Section 10 or of a decree of divorce under Section 13; and
(b) another petition under this Act has been presented thereafter by the other
party to the marriage praying for a decree for judicial separation under Section 10
or for a decree of divorce under Section 13 on any ground, whether in the same
District Court or in a different District Court, in the same State or in a different
State,
the petitions shall be dealt with as specified in sub-section (2).
(2) In a case where sub-section (1) applies,-
(a) if the petitions are presented to the same District Court, both the petitions shall
be tried and heard together by that District Court;
(b) if the petition are presented to different District Courts, the petition presented
later shall be transferred to the District Court in which the earlier petition was
presented and both the petitions shall be heard and disposed of together by the
district court in which the earlier petition was presented.
(3) In a case where clause (b) of sub-section (2) applies, the court or the
Government, as the case may be, competent under the Code of Civil Procedure, 5
of 1908 to transfer any suit or proceeding from this District Court in which the later
petition has been presented to the district court in which the earlier petition is
pending, shall exercise its powers to transfer such later petition as if it had been
empowered so to do under the said Code