Syed TAHIRULHASSAN ZAIDI vs Mst. NUSRAT TAHIRULHASSAN AND OTHERS
This matter arises from a petition seeking leave to appeal against the order of the Lahore High Court, which declined to interfere with the concurrent findings of fact regarding the non-payment of a dower debt. The core legal question concerned whether the concurrent findings of fact by the lower courts regarding a disputed bank transaction for the payment of dower could be disturbed in constitutional jurisdiction. The Supreme Court dismissed the petition, holding that where the trial court and the appellate court concurrently found upon an appraisal of evidence that the bank transaction representing the payment of dower was fake and that the wife was not the recipient, such concurrent findings of fact are unexceptionable and cannot be interfered with in writ jurisdiction. The key principle laid down is that the superior courts will not interfere with concurrent findings of fact on appreciation of evidence in constitutional petitions unless such findings are shown to be suffering from any grave illegality or jurisdictional defect.
- Can concurrent findings of fact regarding the payment of dower be challenged in a constitutional petition?
- Will the Supreme Court interfere with concurrent findings of fact affirmed by the High Court based on an appraisal of evidence?
ORDER
1. ' MUHAMMAD HALEEM, ACTG. C. J.-In this petition the dispute relates to the recovery of dower debt about which it was alleged that it was paid through a bank on 15th of February, 1975, at Lahore. The trial Court held that the bank transaction was fake as she was not the recipient of the amount withdrawn from the bank.
2. ' On appeal the Additional District Judge, Rawalpindi, affirmed this finding upon an appraisal of evidence on record. Feeling aggrieved, the petitioner challenged this finding in the Lahore High Court through a constitution petition, but did not succeed as the High Court did not interfere with the concurrent finding of fact. The learned counsel for the petitioner was not able to seriously dispute the correctness of this finding. Accordingly, we see no justification to interfere with the order of the High Court, which is unexceptionable.
3. ' The petition is, accordingly, dismissed.