Supreme Court sends MP’s ‘homeless’ wife to knock Delhi High Court doors

Source: dnaindia.com

An ugly family feud in the house of a Member of Parliament from Rajya Sabha played out in the Supreme Court on Tuesday after his legally wedded wife who was pushed out of home sought a place of refuge even as the MP’s illegitimate wife of whom there are three children found a house for herself to live in.

The plight of the MP’s wife Uma Devi was borne from a Delhi High Court order of September 20 after one of the three children of the illegitimate wife filed a habeas corpus petition alleging illegal confinement by the MP’s wife. The High Court ordered her production and on her appearance and further inquiry by the police, details of abuse and maltreatment of the illegitimate wife came to the fore. The case related to an 80-year-old JD(U) MP from Bihar.

With the probe still on, the HC, as an interim arrangement, directed Uma Devi to remain away from the official home of MP where he will be taken care of by nurses and a member of the family of the illegitimate wife. The HC directed Uma Devi to deposit her passport for four weeks till police probe is over but shifted the illegitimate wife to another property owned by MP in Delhi.

Coming against this order, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Uma Devi told apex court that this was a strange order passed by the HC separating the husband and wife for an investigation by police in which there is no FIR. He questioned how such an order could be passed in a habeas corpus virtually leaving no place for the 67-year old petitioner to go.

The bench noted the HC order was a consensual order with approval of all parties, including Uma Devi. But, the Court realised that the HC failed to address the aspect as to where the wife of the MP would stay, leaving her high and dry.

Considering this issue, the apex court sent the petitioner to approach the HC again for seeking clarification.