What is Alteration in allowance? What is Enforcement of order of maintenance? Section 127 and 128 of Code of Criminal Procedure 1973

Alteration in allowance and Enforcement of order of maintenance are defined under Section 127 and 128 of CRPC 1973. Provisions under these sections are:

 

Section 127 of CRPC "Alteration in allowance"
1[(1) On proof of a change in the circumstances of any person, receiving, under section 125 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 125 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 125 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,-

(i) in the case where such sum was paid before such order, from the date on which such order was made;

(ii) in any other case, from the date of expiry of the period, if any, for which maintenance has been actually paid by the husband to the woman;

(c) the woman has obtained a divorce from her husband and that she had voluntarily surrendered her rights to 2[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 3[monthly allowance for the maintenance and interim maintenance or any of them has been ordered] to be paid under section 125, the Civil Court shall take into account the sum which has been paid to, or recovered by, such person 4[as monthly allowance for the maintenance and interim maintenance or any of them, as the case may be, in pursuance of] the said order.

STATE AMENDMENTS

Madhya Pradesh-

Amendment of section 127.-In sub-section (1) of section 127 of the principal Act, for the words "father or mother", the words "father, mother, grand father, grand mother" shall be substituted.

[Vide Madhya Pradesh Act 15 of 2004, s. 4.]

West Bengal
In the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 127 of the principal Act, for the words "five hundred rupees", the words "one thousand and five hundred rupees" shall be substituted.

[Vide West Bengal Act 14 of 1995, s. 3.]

West Bengal
In Sub-section (1) of section 127 of the principal Act, the proviso shall be omitted.

[Vide West Bengal Act 33 of 2001, s. 4.]

Maharashtra
Amendment of section 127 of Act (2 of 1974).-In section 127 of the said Code,-

(a) in sub-section (1), in the proviso, for the words "five hundred rupees" the words "fifteen hundred rupees" shall be substitute;

(b) in sub-section (4),-

(i) for the words "monthly allowance", where they occur for the first time, the words "maintenance allowance" shall be substituted;

(ii) after the words "monthly allowance", where they occur for the second time, the words "or, as the case may be, the lump-sum allowance" shall be inserted.

[Vide Maharashtra Act 21 of 1999, s. 3]

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1. 1. Subs. by Act 50 of 2001, s. 3, for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 24-9-2001).

2. Subs. by Act 50 of 2001, s. 3, for "maintenance" (w.e.f. 24-9-2001).

3. Subs. by s. 3, ibid., for "monthly allowance has been ordered" (w.e.f. 24-9-2001).

4. Subs. by Act 50 of 2001, s. 3, for "monthly allowance in pursuance of" (w.e.f. 24-9-2001).



Section 128 of CRPC "Enforcement of order of maintenance"
A copy of the order of 1[maintenance or interim maintenance and expenses of proceedings, as the case may be,] shall be given without payment to the person in whose favour it is made, or to his guardian, if any, or to the person to 2[whom the allowance for the maintenance or the allowance for the interim maintenance and expenses of proceeding, as the case may be,] is to be paid; and such order may be enforced by any Magistrate in any place where the person against whom it is made may be, on such Magistrate being satisfied as to the identity of the parties and the non-payment of the 3[allowance, or as the case may be, expenses, due].

STATE AMENDMENTS

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

Amendment of section 128.--In section 128 of the principal Act, the expression "where the person against whom it is made, may be," shall be omitted.

[Vide Andhra Pradesh Act 18 of 2007, s. 3

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1. Subs. by s. 4,ibid., for "maintenance" (w.e.f. 24-9-2001).

2. Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for "whom the allowance" (w.e.f. 24-9-2001).

3. Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for "allowance due" (w.e.f. 24-9-2001).