Gangadharan Gopi v Sartha d/o Venka Dasalam: Appeal on Division of Matrimonial Property and Maintenance Fees
In Gangadharan Gopi v Sartha d/o Venka Dasalam, the High Court of Singapore heard an appeal by Mr. Gangadharan Gopi against the decision of the District Judge regarding the division of matrimonial property and arrears in maintenance fees to be paid to his former wife, Mdm Sartha d/o Venka Dasalam. The High Court dismissed the appeal, upholding the original orders for the release of funds from Mr. Gopi's CPF account and the payment of arrears.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Appeal Dismissed
1.3 Case Type
Family
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Appeal regarding division of matrimonial property and maintenance fees. The High Court dismissed the appeal, upholding the original orders.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gangadharan Gopi | Appellant | Individual | Appeal Dismissed | Lost | |
| Sartha d/o Venka Dasalam | Respondent | Individual | Orders Upheld | Won |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Tan Lee Meng | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Lalita Seenivasan | Virginia Quek Lalita & Partners |
4. Facts
- Mr. Gopi and Mdm Sartha were married on 11 September 1982 and divorced in 2004.
- Mdm Sartha was granted custody, care, and control of their three children.
- Mr. Gopi was ordered to pay Mdm Sartha monthly maintenance fees for herself and their children.
- The matrimonial property was to be sold, with Mdm Sartha entitled to 25% of the nett proceeds.
- Mr. Gopi sold the matrimonial property but did not pay Mdm Sartha her share.
- DJ Tan varied the order to allow the CPF Board to release funds to Mdm Sartha.
- Mr. Gopi had not complied with the maintenance order on numerous occasions.
5. Formal Citations
- Gangadharan Gopi v Sartha d/o Venka Dasalam, , [2009] SGHC 107
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Marriage of Mr. Gopi and Mdm Sartha | |
| District Judge Tan Peck Cheng made ancillary orders | |
| Appeal heard by VK Rajah JC | |
| Decree Absolute granted | |
| District Judge Tan varied the Order of Court | |
| Appeal dismissed |
7. Legal Issues
- Division of Matrimonial Property
- Outcome: The court upheld the original order that Mdm Sartha was entitled to 25% of the nett proceeds from the sale of the matrimonial property.
- Category: Substantive
- Arrears in Maintenance Fees
- Outcome: The court ordered Mr. Gopi to pay the outstanding arrears in maintenance fees.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- No remedies sought
9. Cause of Actions
- No cause of actions
10. Practice Areas
- Family Law
- Divorce
- Appeals
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| No applicable statutes | |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Matrimonial Property
- Maintenance Fees
- Central Provident Fund
- Division of Assets
- Arrears
15.2 Keywords
- family law
- divorce
- matrimonial property
- maintenance
- singapore
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Family Law | 95 |
| Matrimonial Assets | 90 |
| Maintenance | 85 |
| Divorce | 75 |
| Child Custody | 60 |
| Child Support | 60 |
16. Subjects
- Family Law
- Divorce
- Matrimonial Assets