PLJ 2017 Lahore 370
MLD 2001), · Not specified
This case involves a dispute between a husband and wife over dower (mehr), dowry articles, maintenance, and restitution of conjugal rights. The wife had filed suits to recover unpaid dower (cash, a house, and gold ornaments) along with dowry articles her parents had given, and maintenance, after alleging she was beaten and thrown out of her husband's house. The husband separately sued for restitution of conjugal rights. The Family Court ruled in the wife's favor, granting her claims and dismissing the husband's suit. On appeal, the Additional District Judge partially overturned this decision, reducing some of what the wife was awarded. Both parties then challenged that appellate decision through separate writ petitions before the Lahore High Court, Bahawalpur Bench, which were heard together.
The High Court examined Islamic law concepts of prompt dower (payable immediately upon marriage) and deferred dower (payable later, upon events like divorce), explaining that dower is a wife's vested right upon marriage. The Court found that the appellate judge had modified the well-reasoned trial court judgment without properly examining the evidence, including entries in the marriage contract (nikah nama) that supported the wife's claims regarding gold ornaments and dowry articles. The Court also viewed the husband's restitution suit skeptically, suggesting it was an attempt to deprive the wife of her rightful claims, especially since he had not paid the dower he had committed to.
This judgment matters because it reinforces that wives' entitlement to dower and dowry articles must
یہ مقدمہ میاں بیوی کے درمیان حق مہر، جہیز کے سامان، نان نفقہ اور بحالیٔ ازدواجی تعلقات کے تنازع سے متعلق ہے۔ بیوی نے یہ دعویٰ دائر کیا تھا کہ اسے مارا پیٹا گیا اور شوہر کے گھر سے نکال دیا گیا، جس کے بعد اس نے غیر ادا شدہ حق مہر (نقدی، ایک مکان اور سونے کے زیورات) کے ساتھ ساتھ اپنے والدین کی جانب سے دیے گئے جہیز کے سامان اور نان نفقہ کی وصولی کے لیے مقدمات دائر کیے۔ دوسری جانب شوہر نے علیحدہ طور پر بحالیٔ ازدواجی تعلقات کے لیے دعویٰ دائر کیا۔ فیملی کورٹ نے بیوی کے حق میں فیصلہ دیتے ہوئے اس کے دعوے منظور کیے اور شوہر کا دعویٰ خارج کر دیا۔ اپیل پر ایڈیشنل ڈسٹرکٹ جج نے اس فیصلے کو جزوی طور پر کالعدم قرار دیتے ہوئے بیوی کو دی گئی کچھ مراعات میں ک