A single bench of Delhi High Court held as follows,
From Paras 12-14,
Rangesh Srinivasan Vs Madhulika Bawa on 07 Jun 202312. Going a step deeper, there is another aspect. While exercising the revisional scrutiny of an interim maintenance order passed in proceedings under Section 125 CrPC, the revisional court for yet another reason cannot impose as a pre-condition to grant of stay on operation of the assailed interim maintenance order, such general rider of deposit of the entire amount of awarded maintenance ignoring the overall circumstances of the case. The provision under Section 397 CrPC confers suo motu powers on the Court of Sessions and the High Court. Wherever the statute confers suo motu powers on any judicial authority, such powers are always implicitly accompanied with attendant duty to invoke the powers in order to meet the ends of justice. Once an illegality, incorrectness or impropriety in a judicial order is brought to the notice of the revisional court under Section 397 CrPC, the Court cannot justifiably refuse to entertain the challenge on the grounds of non-compliance with the order impugned before it. From that angle also, in my view, there cannot be generalized direction not to stay the operation of the interim maintenance order solely on the ground that the revisionist did not deposit the entire amount of awarded maintenance. Of course, if otherwise the factual and legal matrix justifies, grant of stay can be denied as well.
13. It is clarified that in the present case this court has refrained itself from analysing as to whether operation of the interim maintenance order facing appellate challenge is otherwise liable to be stayed or not. This issue has to be considered by the learned Additional Sessions Judge on the facts and circumstances of the case in the backdrop of settled legal position.
14. In view of above discussion, the petition is allowed and accordingly the impugned order is set aside, consequently remanding the matter back to the learned Additional Sessions Judge to decide afresh as to whether the interim maintenance order passed by the magisterial court is liable to be stayed during pendency of the appeal.
Citations: [2023 Latest Caselaw 774 Del]
Other Sources:
https://indiankanoon.org/doc/185965631/
https://www.casemine.com/judgement/in/6481f4e9e2788a042a651529
https://www.latestlaws.com/judgements/delhi-hc/2023/june/2023-latest-caselaw-774-del
https://www.the-laws.com/Encyclopedia/browse/Case?CaseId=103202750100&Title=RANGESH-SRINIVASAN-Vs.-MADHULIKA-BAWA
https://legiteye.com/in-crl-mc-4349-of-2023-del-hc-once-an-illegality-or-impropriety-in-a-judicial-order-is-brought-to-notice-of-revisional-court-it-cannot-justifiably-refuse-to-entertain-the-challenge-on-grounds-of-non-compliance-with-the-order-impugned-before-it-delhi-high-court-justice-girish-kathpalia-07-06-2023/
Index of PWDV Act cases here. Index of Maintenance cases u/s 144 BNSS (125 Cr.P.C.) here.