HC asks for AP, TS stand on black market Court fiat to NRI on divorce

The Hyderabad High Court has directed the TS and AP governments to spell out their stand on a PIL seeking steps to prevent black marketing in accordance with the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Shameem Akhter was admitting the PIL filed by city resident T. Dhangopal Rao, who alleged that the lack of response from the government to his representation violated his fundamental rights.

He said he had made representations to the principal secretaries of consumer affairs, food and civil supplies departments of both the states. The bench issued notices to officials of both states to file counter affidavits before April 4. The family court has granted an interim injunction directing an NRI husband not to proceed with a divorce case pending before the district court of Denton county of Texas State, US, till March 31.

The court was dealing with a petition by the wife of Kommineni Siddi Ganeshwara Prasad, a resident of Texas and native of Tirupati, challenging the divorce proceedings that he had initiated before the 431st judicial district court of Denton county.

The petitioner said their marriage was solemnised at Tirupati according to the Hindu Marriage Act. She alleged that her husband and in-laws tortured her for dowry. Mr Y. Balaji, counsel for the petitioner, told the court that as per the Texas Family Law there was a procedure for “no fault divorce”. He said the petitioner and her son could not travel to the US as their passports were retained by her husband.

Mr Balaji said the Denton county had ruled that it had jurisdiction to decide the divorce petition. It could not decide on custody of the child and division of property.