Thursday, March 9, 2017

No decree for divorce on one isolated incident can be passed.

The Hon’ble Supreme Court held that :-
“We are not impressed by the submission of the learned counsel for the
respondent that an incident which occurred somewhere in 2010 when the
appellant visited the office of the respondent and alleged to have
misbehaved with the respondent in front of other officers would constitute
an act of cruelty on the part of the appellant so as to enable the
respondent to claim divorce. In the first place, no decree for divorce on
one isolated incident can be passed. Secondly, there could be myriad
reasons for causing such isolated incident. Merely because both exchanged
some verbal conversation in presence of others would not be enough to
constitute an act of cruelty unless it is further supported by some
incidents of alike nature. It was not so.”
We are also not impressed by the submission of the learned counsel
for the respondent that since the appellant had made allegation against the
respondent of his having extra-marital relation and hence such allegation
would also constitute an act of cruelty on the part of the appellant
entitling the respondent to claim decree for dissolution of marriage.
34) Similarly, we are also not impressed by the submission of learned
counsel for the respondent that since both have been living separately for
quite some time and hence this may be considered a good ground to give
divorce.
In the first place, the respondent did not seek a decree of
dissolution of marriage on these grounds. Second, the grounds of cruelty
taken by the respondent in his petition does not include these grounds.
Third, even if some stray allegations were made by the wife in her
pleading/evidence as were relied upon by the learned counsel are of no
relevance because, as mentioned above, these ground were not pleaded in the
petition by the respondent for seeking a decree of divorce and nor were put
in issue; and lastly, the burden being on the respondent, the same could be
discharged by the respondent by pleading and then proving. It was not so
done. It is for these reasons, we cannot accept the aforementioned two
submissions for affirming the decree of divorce.
————————————————————————————
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL Nos.7114-7115 OF 2014
Suman Singh ….Appellant(s)
VERSUS
Sanjay Singh …Respondent(s)
J U D G M E N T
Abhay Manohar Sapre, J.
1) These appeals are filed by the appellant (wife) against the final
judgment and order dated 23.05.2013 passed by the High Court of Delhi at
New Delhi in F.A.O. No.108 of 2013 and F.A.O. No.109 of 2013 by which the
High Court dismissed the appeals filed by the appellant and confirmed the
judgment dated 14.12.2010 of the Principal Judge, Family Courts, Rohini
which had granted decree for dissolution of marriage in favour of the
respondent (husband) and, in consequence, also affirmed the order
dismissing the petition filed by the appellant (wife) for restitution of
conjugal rights.
2) Facts, in brief, to appreciate the controversy involved in the
appeals need mention infra.
3) The marriage between the appellant and the respondent was solemnized
on 26.02.1999 at Delhi as per the Hindu rites. The respondent-husband is
working as “Caretaker” in the Government of NCT of Delhi whereas the
appellant is a housewife. Out of this wedlock, one daughter was born on
15.06.2002 and the second daughter was born on 10.02.2006. Both daughters
are living with the appellant.
4) On 11.07.2010, the respondent (husband) filed a petition for
dissolution of marriage under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
(hereinafter referred to as “The Act”) in the Family Courts, Rohini, Delhi
against the appellant (wife). The respondent sought decree for dissolution
of marriage essentially on the ground of “cruelty”.
5) In substance, the respondent, in his petition, pleaded 9 instances
which, according to him, constituted “cruelty” within the meaning of
Section 13(1)(i-a) of the Act entitling him to claim dissolution of
marriage against the appellant.
6) The first ground of cruelty was related to wife’s behavior on the
next day of marriage, i.e., 27.02.1999. It was alleged that the appellant
came out of the bedroom in night dress and that too late when the close
relatives of the respondent were sitting in the house. It was alleged that
she did not pay respect and wishes to the elders. (Para 9 of the plaint)
7) The second ground of cruelty was again about the appellant’s behavior
with the respondent on the eve of New Year. However, the year was not
mentioned. According to the respondent, he agreed to celebrate the new
year with the appellant on her parental house as the parents of the
appellant gave repeated calls. After reaching her parental house, most of
the time the appellant was busy with her family members and left him alone
in the drawing room. Even at the time of dinner, the family members of the
appellant did not behave properly. (Para 10).
8) The third ground of cruelty was that the appellant did not show any
inclination or enthusiasm to attend any important family function or
festivals at the respondent’s house whenever held. However, no details were
given about the date and the function held. The allegations are general in
nature (Para 11).
9) The fourth ground of cruelty was again about the indecent behavior of
the appellant towards the respondent’s family members. However, no details
were pleaded except making general averments (Para 12).
10) The fifth ground of cruelty was in relation to an incident which,
according to the respondent, occurred in July 1999. It was alleged that the
appellant, on that day, insisted that the couple should live separately
from the respondent’s parents (Para 13).
11) The sixth ground of cruelty was again general with no details. It was
alleged that the appellant was not interested in doing any household work
nor was interested in preparing meals and used to insist the respondent to
have his lunch from outside. (Para 14).
12) The seventh ground of cruelty was in relation to one incident which,
according to the respondent, occurred on Diwali day in the year 2000. It
was again about the behavior of the appellant with the family members of
the respondent which, according to the respondent, was rude (Para 16).
13) The eighth ground of cruelty was in relation to one isolated incident
which, according to the respondent, occurred on 15.04.2001. It was again
about the behavior of the appellant with the friends of the respondent who
had come to the respondent’s house. According to the respondent, the family
members did not like it (Para 17).
14) The ninth ground of cruelty was that one day in year 2010, the
appellant visited the respondent’s office and misbehaved with the
respondent in the presence of other officials (Para 27).
15) The respondent also alleged some instances in the petition. They,
however, again essentially relate to the appellant’s behaviour with the
respondent and his family members.
16) The appellant filed her written statement and denied these
allegations. The appellant also applied for restitution of conjugal rights
against the respondent in the same proceedings by filing petition under
Section 9 of the Act and inter alia alleged in her petition that it was the
respondent who has withdrawn from her company without there being a
reasonable cause. She also while denying the case set up by the respondent
justified her case for restitution of conjugal rights.
17) The Trial Court framed the following issues on the basis of pleadings
in the case:
Whether after solemnization of marriage, the Respondent has
treated the Petitioner with cruelty? OPP
Whether the Petitioner is entitled to the decree of
divorce as prayed? OPP
3. Relief
The following issues were framed based on the pleadings in the petition
under Section 9 of the Act:
Whether the Petitioner is entitled to the restitution of conjugal rights as
prayed? OPP
Relief
18) Parties adduced the evidence. By order dated 14.12.2012, the Family
Court allowed the petition filed by the respondent. It was held that the
grounds alleged by the respondent amounted to mental cruelty within the
meaning of Section 13(1)(ia) of the Act and the same having been proved by
the respondent, he was entitled to claim a decree for dissolution of
marriage against the appellant. Accordingly, the Trial Court granted decree
for dissolution of marriage in favour of the respondent and dissolved the
marriage. Since the decree for dissolution of marriage was passed against
the appellant, the petition filed by the appellant against the respondent
seeking restitution of conjugal rights was dismissed.
19) The appellant, felt aggrieved by the aforesaid order, filed first
appeals before the High Court. In appeals, the question was whether the
Trial Court was justified in granting decree for dissolution of marriage to
the respondent (husband) and, in consequence, was justified in dismissing
the petition for restitution of conjugal rights filed by the appellant
(wife).
20) By impugned judgment, the High Court dismissed the appeals and
affirmed the judgment/decree of the Trial Court. The appellant (wife), felt
aggrieved, has filed these appeals by special leave against the judgment of
the High Court.
21) Heard Mr. D.N. Goburdhan, learned counsel for the appellant and Mr.
Gaurav Goel, learned counsel for the respondent.
22) Having heard the learned counsel for the parties and on perusal of
the record of the case, we are inclined to allow the appeals and while
setting aside the impugned order, dismiss the divorce petition filed by the
respondent(husband) against the appellant and, in consequence, allow the
petition filed by the appellant(wife) for restitution of conjugal rights
against the respondent (husband).
23) The word “cruelty” used in Section 13(1)(ia) of the Act is not
defined under the Act. However, this expression was the subject matter of
interpretation in several cases of this Court. What amounts to “mental
cruelty” was succinctly explained by this Court (three Judge Bench) in
Samar Ghosh vs. Jaya Ghosh [(2007) 4 SCC 511]. Their Lordships speaking
through Justice Dalveer Bhandari observed that no uniform standard can ever
be laid down for guidance, yet it is appropriate to enumerate some
instances of human behavior which may be considered relevant in dealing
with the cases of “mental cruelty”.
24) Their Lordships then broadly enumerated 16 category of cases which
are considered relevant while examining the question as to whether the
facts alleged and proved constitute “mental cruelty” so as to attract the
provisions of Section 13 (1) (ia) of the Act for granting decree of
divorce.
25) Keeping in view the law laid down in Samar Ghosh’s case (supra), when
we examine the grounds taken by the respondent in his petition for proving
the mental cruelty for grant of divorce against the appellant, we find that
none of the grounds satisfies either individually or collectively the test
laid down in Samar Ghosh’s case (supra) so as to entitle the respondent to
claim a decree of divorce.
26) This we hold for more than one reason. First, almost all the grounds
taken by the respondent in his petition were stale or/and isolated and did
not subsist to enable the respondent to seek a decree for dissolution of
marriage. In other words, the incidents of cruelty alleged had taken place
even, according to the respondent, immediately after marriage. They were
solitary incidents relating to the behavior of the appellant. Second,
assuming that one or more grounds constituted an act of cruelty, yet we
find that the acts complained of were condoned by the parties due to their
subsequent conduct inasmuch as admittedly both lived together till 2006 and
the appellant gave birth to their second daughter in 2006. Third, most of
the incidents of alleged cruelty pertained to the period prior to 2006 and
some were alleged to have occurred after 2006. Those pertained to period
after 2006 were founded on general allegations with no details pleaded such
as when such incident occurred (year, month, date etc.), what was its
background, who witnessed, what the appellant actually said etc.
27) In our view, the incidents which occurred prior to 2006 could not be
relied on to prove the instances of cruelty because they were deemed to
have been condoned by the acts of the parties. So far as the instances
alleged after 2006 were concerned, they being isolated instances, did not
constitute an act of cruelty.
28) A petition seeking divorce on some isolated incidents alleged to have
occurred 8-10 years prior to filing of the date of petition cannot furnish
a subsisting cause of action to seek divorce after 10 years or so of
occurrence of such incidents. The incidents alleged should be of recurring
nature or continuing one and they should be in near proximity with the
filing of the petition.
29) Few isolated incidents of long past and that too found to have been
condoned due to compromising behavior of the parties cannot constitute an
act of cruelty within the meaning of Section 13 (1)(ia)of the Act.
30) In our considered opinion, both the Courts below failed to take note
of this material aspect of the case and thus committed jurisdictional error
in passing a decree for dissolution of marriage.
31) We cannot, therefore, countenance the approach of the High Court
because it did not, in the first instance, examine the grounds taken in the
petition to find out as to whether such grounds constitute mental cruelty
or not? The finding, therefore, though concurrent does not bind this
Court.
32) We are not impressed by the submission of the learned counsel for the
respondent that an incident which occurred somewhere in 2010 when the
appellant visited the office of the respondent and alleged to have
misbehaved with the respondent in front of other officers would constitute
an act of cruelty on the part of the appellant so as to enable the
respondent to claim divorce. In the first place, no decree for divorce on
one isolated incident can be passed. Secondly, there could be myriad
reasons for causing such isolated incident. Merely because both exchanged
some verbal conversation in presence of others would not be enough to
constitute an act of cruelty unless it is further supported by some
incidents of alike nature. It was not so.
33) We are also not impressed by the submission of the learned counsel
for the respondent that since the appellant had made allegation against the
respondent of his having extra-marital relation and hence such allegation
would also constitute an act of cruelty on the part of the appellant
entitling the respondent to claim decree for dissolution of marriage.
34) Similarly, we are also not impressed by the submission of learned
counsel for the respondent that since both have been living separately for
quite some time and hence this may be considered a good ground to give
divorce.
35) In the first place, the respondent did not seek a decree of
dissolution of marriage on these grounds. Second, the grounds of cruelty
taken by the respondent in his petition does not include these grounds.
Third, even if some stray allegations were made by the wife in her
pleading/evidence as were relied upon by the learned counsel are of no
relevance because, as mentioned above, these ground were not pleaded in the
petition by the respondent for seeking a decree of divorce and nor were put
in issue; and lastly, the burden being on the respondent, the same could be
discharged by the respondent by pleading and then proving. It was not so
done. It is for these reasons, we cannot accept the aforementioned two
submissions for affirming the decree of divorce.
36) This takes us to the next question as to whether the appellant was
able to make out any case for restitution of conjugal rights against the
respondent.
37) Having perused her petition and evidence, we are of the view that the
appellant is entitled for a decree for restitution of conjugal rights
against the respondent.
38) In our considered view, as it appears to us from perusal of the
evidence that it is the respondent who withdrew from the appellant’s
company without there being any reasonable cause to do so. Now that we have
held on facts that the respondent failed to make out any case of cruelty
against the appellant, it is clear to us that it was the respondent who
withdrew from the company of the appellant without reasonable cause and not
the vice versa.
39) In view of foregoing discussion, the appeals succeed and are allowed.
The impugned judgment is set aside. As a result, the petition filed by the
respondent (husband) under Section 13(1) of the Act seeking dissolution of
marriage is dismissed. As a consequence thereof, the marriage between the
parties is held to subsist whereas the petition filed by the appellant
against the respondent under Section 9 of the Act seeking restitution of
conjugal right is allowed. A decree for restitution of conjugal right is,
accordingly, passed against the respondent.
40) We hope and trust that the parties would now realize their duties and
obligations against each other as also would realize their joint
obligations as mother and father towards their grown up daughters. Both
should, therefore, give quite burial to their past deeds/acts and bitter
experiences and start living together and see that their daughters are well
settled in their respective lives. Such reunion, we feel, would be in the
interest of all family members in the long run and will bring peace,
harmony and happiness. We find that the respondent is working as a
“Caretaker” in the Government Department (see Para 4 of his petition). He
must, therefore, be the “Caretaker” of his own family that being his first
obligation and at the same time attend to his Government duties to maintain
his family.
……………………………………..J.
[R.K. AGRAWAL]
….………………………………….J.
[ABHAY MANOHAR SAPRE]
New Delhi;

Saturday, November 21, 2015

cruelty ground for divorce under hindu marriage act.

 Before the trial Court, on the side of the petitioner/wife, she has examined herself as PW.1 and marked 4 documents as Exs.P1 to P4 and on the side of the respondent/husband, he has examined himself as RW.1 and marked 13 documents as Exs.R1 to R13. The Trial Court, after analysing the entire pleadings and evidence on record, came to the conclusion that the contention of the petitioner/wife that the respondent/husband has caused mental and physical cruelty to the petitioner/wife is proved and therefore the petitioner/wife is entitled for divorce on theground of cruelty. The Trial Court has further held that the petitioner/wife is entitled for permanent alimony of Rs.5 lakhs from the respondent/husband. Aggrieved with the above said order, the respondent/husband has preferred this appeal.
21. Per contra, the learned counsel for the petitioner-wife has submitted that the petitioner has alleged several incidences of cruelty in the petition and the petitioner has deposed to prove the same and since the above said incidences happened between the husband and wife, the petitioner-wife alone is competent to speak about the alleged cruelty and the Trial Court has correctly discussed and held that the petitioner-wife has proved the alleged cruelty and granteddivorce on the ground of cruelty and also the permanent alimony awarded by the Trial Court is just and reasonable and no need to interfere with the above said findings of the Trial Court.
24. The learned counsel for the appellant/respondent has relied on the following decisions:
"1. DR.N.G.DASTANE Vs. MRS. S. DASTANE (AIR 1975 SC 1534)
2. P.ABIRAMI Vs. D.E. TAMILARASAN (2012 (2) CTC 607) and
3. SAMAR GHOSH Vs. JAYA GHOSH (2007 (3) CTC 464)"
and contended that the burden of proof lies only on the petitioner to establish her case and also contended that mere trivial irritations, quarrels and normal wear and tear of married life, which happens in day to day life would not be adequate for grant of divorce on the ground of mentalcruelty and the petitioner has not pleaded with material particulars like date and month and also not pleaded and proved the specific acts of cruelty and therefore the petitioner-wife is not entitled to the relief of divorce on the ground of cruelty.
"74. .... (ix) Mere trivial irritations, quarrels, normal wear and tear of the married life which happens in day to day life would not be adequate for grant of divorce on the ground of mentalcruelty. ...."
In the above said decision, the Honourable Supreme Court has held that mere trivial irritations, quarrels, normal wear and tear of the married life which happens in day to day life would not be adequate for grant of divorce on the ground of mental cruelty.
29. In the instant case, the petitioner-wife has filed petition for divorce on the ground ofcruelty and therefore as per the law laid down by the Honourable Supreme Court in the above decision relied on by the respondent/husband, the petitioner/wife has to prove the alleged incidences of cruelty by adducing reliable evidence.

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IN  THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED :      16 .8.2012

CORAM:


THE HONOURABLE  MR.JUSTICE  C.NAGAPPAN
and
THE HONOURABLE  MR.JUSTICE  R.KARUPPIAH


C.M.A No.887 of 2010
and
MP.No.1 of 2010
---

A.Sukumar     .. Appellant/Respondent
 
       Vs.

K.S.Chitra     .. Respondent/Petitioner

 Prayer:  This Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is preferred against the fair and decretal order, dated 27.10.2009, passed  in  F.C.O.P.No.918 of 2003 on the file  of  the  Principal  Family Court, Chennai.   

  For Appellant            :   Mr.S.Soundararajan
          for  Mr.K.S.Natarajan
 
  For Respondent         :   Mr.D.J.Venkatesan  
  
          ----

JUDGMENT
R.KARUPPIAH,J.
This Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is directed against the fair and decretal order, dated 27.10.2009, passed in F.C.O.P.No.918 of 2003 on the file of the Principal Family Court, Chennai. The respondent in the petition is the appellant herein. In this Judgment, for the sake of convenience, the parties are referred to as arrayed in the petition.
2. The respondent/petitioner, who is the wife of the appellant, has filed petition for divorce on the ground of cruelty under Section 13(1)(i)(a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and also for permanent alimony of Rs.10 lakhs.
3. Briefly, the case of the petitioner/wife is that the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent was solemnised on 26.1.1996 according to Hindu rites and customs and out of wedlock, a daughter viz. Varshini, aged 6 years and a son viz. Sanjay, aged 1 = years, were born. The respondent is employed as Reservation Clerk in Southern Railway and the petitioner is employed as Clerk in Indian Bank, Perambur.
4. According to the petitioner, at the time of marriage, the respondent's father informed that all his sons were settled in life and they were all living in their own house and on believing the abovesaid fact, the petitioner's parents consented for the marriage, but his elder brother Kirubakaran, who was married and having children, was unemployed and the entire family was depending upon the respondent and the respondent's father had chosen the petitioner in the interest of her income from employment. Further, the respondent's father and brother insisted the petitioner and the respondent to vacate the house since they wanted to rent out that portion and to utilise the rental income for the said Kirubakaran's family.
5. It is further stated in the petition that the respondent raised loan and purchased house at No.49, Janagiram Reddy Colony, Villivakkam and as there was insufficiency of funds to purchase the house, he forced the petitioner to collect money from her parents and he had beaten up the petitioner black and blue everyday for not asking money from her parents. The petitioner has further stated that the respondent went to the extent of dashing the face and head of the petitioner on wall by holding her hair in his hands and unable to bear the torture, the petitioner requested her parents, who had helped her by giving Rs.1 lakh from their pension. It is further stated that the petitioner was not even permitted to see or handle the pass-book or cheque books and her jewelleries in the bank locker maintained by the respondent and thus the petitioner was subjected to cruelty both physically and mentally by the respondent.
6. It is further stated in the petition that after vacating from own house, the respondent's father constructed shops in the building and arranged for permanent income to the said Kirubakaran and for those construction, the respondent, his father and brother jointly humiliated the petitioner to ask for money from her parents and also encouraged the respondent to beat the petitioner severely and also the respondent's father and brother threatened the petitioner in indecent manner even in the presence of the respondent.
7. The petitioner has further averred in the petition that the respondent had behaved brutally in the sexual life and he used to wake up the petitioner during mid night and had violent sex with her and when the petitioner refused or expressed her tiredness due to over work, the respondent kicked and assaulted the petitioner and also blackmailed the petitioner to subject herself for violent sexual acts otherwise he will bring call girls to home and he will have sex with them in the presence of the petitioner. It is further stated that the respondent was always suspicious and teased the petitioner and also doubted each and every act of the petitioner and the respondent has refused to purchase the necessary provisions for family and also refused even to give Rs.10 extra as pocket money to the petitioner and on many occasions, inspite of ill-health and tiredness, the petitioner was not able to have a cup of coffee or tea at her working place. The petitioner has further stated that harassment and tortures were increasing day by day and the petitioner was waiting with confidence that the respondent will realise his mistakes and correct himself, but the respondent had taken advantage of the goodness and he started her teasing her through the female child by persuading the child.
8. It is further stated in the petition that on 25.4.2003, the respondent forced the petitioner for sex in the early morning and when the petitioner was not willing, he assaulted her severely and threw her out from the matrimonial home by saying that she was not useful for his sexual life and she has to bring Rs.2 lakhs from her parents, otherwise he will not accept her and therefore the petitioner was living with her parents.
9. The petitioner has further stated that on 27.4.2003, when the petitioner was standing in Villivakkam Railway Station, the respondent shouted at her in most indecent manner by using unparliamentary words and hence the petitioner returned her home and took her brother and escorted her to reach her work place and on the same day, after the petitioner left the house, the respondent's father and brother entered her parents' house and abused them in the filthy language and threw their chappals on the petitioner's parents. While the petitioner's maternal uncle tried to prevent the situation, he was assaulted by the respondent's father and brother and hence the petitioner lodged police complaint on 28.5.2003 with W-5 All Women Police Station, Anna Nagar, Chennai which has been proved futile and therefore the petitioner has filed this petition to grant a decree of divorce dissolving the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent and also to grant permanent alimony of Rs.10 lakhs for children.
10. The respondent-husband has filed detailed counter and denied the averments in the petition and stated that there are no sufficient grounds for the grant of divorce and according to Hindu Law, marriage is a sacrament and the relationship of the husband and wife cannot be severed on such flimsy and frivolous allegations. According to the version of respondent, the marriage was held only after enquiring about status of the respondent by petitioner's father. Further, respondent's brother viz. Kirubakaran is a technically qualified person and at the time of marriage, he was working in private concern at Ambattur Industrial Estate and his earning was more than sufficient for entire family expenses and he was never depending upon the income of the respondent and therefore the allegations that Kirubakaran was unemployed and his family was depending upon the respondent are all false. The respondent has also denied the allegation that the petitioner was treated by the respondent's elder brother Kirubakaran and his father as a money lending machine. According to respondent, his father was a retired Railway employee and he is getting pension and also agricultural income and it is sufficient for his retired life and he is not dependent either on the petitioner or respondent's income.
11. It is further averred in the counter that at the time of marriage, the petitioner was working at Golden Rock Railway Station, Tiruchirapalli till March, 1998 and the respondent was in Chennai and during the weekends, the respondent used to visit Trichy and similarly the petitioner also used to visit Chennai to spend holidays with the respondent. It is further stated in the counter that the petitioner got transferred in April 1998 and thereafter both the petitioner and the respondent stayed together and led a happy life.
12. The respondent has further stated in the counter that the allegations made in the petition that the petitioner was beaten up by the respondent black and blue every day for not asking money from her parents and he went to the extent of dashing the face and head of the petitioner against the wall are all absolutely false and the respondent never been any rude or atrocious behaviour and in fact the respondent on several occasions has shown his love and affection towards the petitioner in abundance. The respondent has further denied the averment that the petitioner was not even permitted to see or handle the pass book, cheque book and jewellery in the bank locker and the petitioner was never restricted to operate her bank account by the respondent being an Either or Survivor account. It is further stated in the counter that the respondent's father sold his agricultural land of 3 acres at Magarai village and out of the above said amount and also the loan of Rs. 3 lakhs from Ramakrishnapuram Building Society Limited, Villivakkam, he constructed shops near the existing building and it is false to state that the respondent availed loan for the construction and it is constructed for providing a permanent income to the respondent's brother Kirubakaran. The respondent has also denied the allegation that the respondent's father and brother jointly humiliated and harassed the petitioner and insisted her to ask money from her parents and the petitioner never suffered any cruelty through the respondent or by his relatives and also denied the averment that the respondent was always suspicious and teased the petitioner without any limitation. It is further stated in the counter that the respondent had never made any harassment and torture to the petitioner and also denied the allegation that the respondent teased her through female child by pampering the child.
13. The respondent has further stated in the counter that since the petitioner had an aversion in joint family, the respondent availed housing loan of Rs.3 lakhs on 5.8.1998 from his bank, Rs.75,000/- from Ind Bank Housing Limited, received Rs.50,000/- from petitioner's mother as a hand loan and received Rs.40,000/- from his father and purchased a flat for Rs.4,65,000/- and occupied on 6.9.1998 and the petitioner and the respondent jointly lived for five months from April, 1998 to August, 1998. It is further stated that the respondent had repaid the hand loan obtained from the petitioner's mother and his father. The respondent has further stated that he availed another housing loan of Rs.1,50,000/- during November, 2001 from his employer for alteration and interior decoration of his flat and repaid the loan amount as Rs.2,200/- pm. The respondent has specifically denied the averment made in the petition that the respondent forced the petitioner to collect money from her parents either for purchase of flat or for repayment of loan and also denied the allegation that petitioner's parents gave Rs.1,00,000/-.
14. The respondent has further stated in the counter that the alleged incidents happened on 25.4.2003 are false and cooked up for the petition. According to respondent, on 25.4.2003, the respondent planned to go to Thiruttani Temple along with his family and he requested the petitioner to accompany them but the petitioner refused and asked him to take only her children and the respondent requested again and again but the petitioner shouted and quarreled with the respondent. It is further stated that the petitioner has no faith in Hinduism and therefore the respondent had cancelled the programme and went to his office and the petitioner also went to her office without preparing any food and on that day, she went to her parents' house. The respondent has further stated that he tried to talk with the petitioner over phone but the petitioner refused. It is further stated that besides humiliating the respondent, the petitioner gave strict instruction to her parents not to talk with the respondent and it is clear proof for her bad behaviour with the respondent.
15. It is further stated in the counter that on 27.4.2003, being a holiday, the respondent met the petitioner at Villivakkam Railway Station on her way to office and tried to compromise but she refused to talk with him and returned to her parents' house. The respondent has further denied the allegation in the petition that the respondent's father and brother entered the petitioner's parents' house and abused them in filthy language and threw chappals on the petitioner's parents and in fact, the petitioner's father went to petitioner's house to persuade the petitioner to live with the respondent and lead a happy married life. The respondent has further stated that the petitioner, on a strong influence of her parents, does not desire to continue the marital tie with ulterior motive.
16. The respondent has also stated in the counter that the petitioner lodged a false police complaint on 28.4.2003 and the police conducted enquiry and tried to compromise them but it failed since the petitioner was adamant. It is further averred in the counter that the female child S.Varshini was staying with the respondent and another male child S.Sanjay was staying with the petitioner and the petitioner never allowed to see the child and it clearly shows the amount of cruelty caused to the respondent by the petitioner. The respondent has further stated in the counter that inspite of various allegations against the respondent, the respondent is for reunion only and the petitioner is not showing any indication to live with the respondent. It is further stated by the respondent that the permanent alimony claimed in the petition is only to harass the respondent and put in mental agony and torture on the petitioner's hands and at any rate, the claim of permanent alimony is high and not maintainable and therefore prayed for dismissal of the above said petition.
17. Before the trial Court, on the side of the petitioner/wife, she has examined herself as PW.1 and marked 4 documents as Exs.P1 to P4 and on the side of the respondent/husband, he has examined himself as RW.1 and marked 13 documents as Exs.R1 to R13. The Trial Court, after analysing the entire pleadings and evidence on record, came to the conclusion that the contention of the petitioner/wife that the respondent/husband has caused mental and physical cruelty to the petitioner/wife is proved and therefore the petitioner/wife is entitled for divorce on the ground of cruelty. The Trial Court has further held that the petitioner/wife is entitled for permanent alimony of Rs.5 lakhs from the respondent/husband. Aggrieved with the above said order, the respondent/husband has preferred this appeal.
18. The points for determination in this appeal are:
"1. Whether the petitioner-wife is entitled to divorce on the ground of cruelty under Section 13(1)(i-a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955?
2. Whether the petitioner-wife is entitled to permanent alimony as claimed by her in the petition?"
19. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the entire materials on record.
20. The learned counsel for the respondent/husband has submitted that the Trial Court came to erroneous conclusion that the respondent/husband continued to demand more money from the petitioner/wife without any oral and documentary evidence and the trial Court without applying its mind and believing the evidence of petitioner-wife, without any proof to the same, has held that the respondent has doubted the act of the petitioner and also the respondent/husband had behaved brutally in sexual life and violent with her. He has further submitted that the Trial Court has failed to consider the evidence of the respondent/husband that the respondent/husband was leading marital life as dutiful husband as well as much abundant of love and affection towards his wife and children beyond doubt, but the Trial Court only based on the police complaint dated 28.4.2003 came to the conclusion that the alleged incidence of cruelty was proved by the petitioner/wife. The learned counsel for the respondent/husband has further contended that the respondent has not caused any mental or physical cruelty to the petitioner as alleged in the petition and the petitioner/wife has failed to prove the alleged incidences of cruelty by any sufficient oral and documentary evidence. He has further submitted that the Trial Court has failed to consider the fact that petitioner/wife was Central Government employee and other material facts and arbitrarily awarded Rs.5 lakhs as permanent alimony and therefore prayed for setting aside the above said order and decree passed by the Trial Court.
21. Per contra, the learned counsel for the petitioner-wife has submitted that the petitioner has alleged several incidences of cruelty in the petition and the petitioner has deposed to prove the same and since the above said incidences happened between the husband and wife, the petitioner-wife alone is competent to speak about the alleged cruelty and the Trial Court has correctly discussed and held that the petitioner-wife has proved the alleged cruelty and granted divorce on the ground of cruelty and also the permanent alimony awarded by the Trial Court is just and reasonable and no need to interfere with the above said findings of the Trial Court.
22. It is not in dispute that the marriage between the petitioner and respondent was solemnised on 26.1.1996 according to Hindu rites and customs and out of wedlock, a daughter viz. Varshini and a son viz. Sanjay were born and it is also not in dispute that both the husband and wife were employees and lived together as husband and wife till 25.4.2003.
23. The incidences of cruelty alleged by the petitioner/wife are as under:
(1) The entire family of the respondent/husband was depending upon the income of the respondent and his elder brother Kirubakaran who was married and having children was unemployed and the respondent's father had chosen the petitioner in the interest of income from her employment and the petitioner was treated by cruelty.
(2) The respondent-husband forced the petitioner/wife to collect money from her parents when the respondent raised loan and purchased house at No.49, Janagiram Reddy Colony, Villivakkam as there was insufficiency of funds to purchase the house and the respondent/husband beaten the petitioner/wife black and blue everyday for not asking money from her parents and the respondent/husband went to the extent of dashing the face and head of petitioner/wife on wall by holding her hair in his hands and unbearable with the above said tortures, the petitioner-wife requested her parents, who had helped her by giving Rs.1 lakh from their pension.
(3) After vacating the respondent/husband and petitioner/wife from the own house, the respondent's father constructed shops and at that time, the respondent, his brother and father have jointly humiliated and harassed the petitioner to ask for money from her parents and also encouraged the respondent to beat the petitioner-wife severely so that she will collect money from her parents.
(4) the respondent had behaved brutally in sexual life and he used to wake up the petitioner during the mid-night and had violent sex with her and when the petitioner refused and expressed her tiredness due to over work, the respondent-husband kicked and assaulted his wife and also the respondent blackmailed the petitioner to subject herself for violent sexual life otherwise he will bring call girls home and he will have sex with them in the presence of petitioner-wife.
(5) The respondent was always suspicious and teased the petitioner and the respondent doubted each and every act of the petitioner and also the respondent refused to purchase necessary provisions for the family.
(6) On 25.4.2003, the respondent-husband forced the petitioner-wife for sex in the early morning and when she was not willing, the respondent assaulted her severely and threw her from matrimonial home by saying that she was not useful for his sexual life and also asked to bring Rs.2 lakhs from her parents otherwise he will not accept her.
(7) On 27.4.2003, when the petitioner-wife was standing in Villivakkam Railway Station, the respondent shouted at her in most indecent manner by using unparliamentary words and hence the petitioner-wife returned back home and took her brother to escort her to reach her work place and on the same day, after the petitioner-wife left the house, the respondent's father and brother entered the petitioner-wife's parents house and abused them in filthy language and threw chappals on the petitioner-wife's parents and therefore the petitioner-wife lodged a complaint on 28.4.2003 with W.5 All Women Police Station.
24. The learned counsel for the appellant/respondent has relied on the following decisions:
"1. DR.N.G.DASTANE Vs. MRS. S. DASTANE (AIR 1975 SC 1534)
2. P.ABIRAMI Vs. D.E. TAMILARASAN (2012 (2) CTC 607) and
3. SAMAR GHOSH Vs. JAYA GHOSH (2007 (3) CTC 464)"
and contended that the burden of proof lies only on the petitioner to establish her case and also contended that mere trivial irritations, quarrels and normal wear and tear of married life, which happens in day to day life would not be adequate for grant of divorce on the ground of mental cruelty and the petitioner has not pleaded with material particulars like date and month and also not pleaded and proved the specific acts of cruelty and therefore the petitioner-wife is not entitled to the relief of divorce on the ground of cruelty.
25. Per contra, the learned counsel for the petitioner-wife relied on the following decisions:
"1. SATISH SITOLE Vs. SMT. GANGA (AIR 2008 SC 3093)
2. SAPNA Vs. B. PRADEEP KUMAR (MANU/TN/0823/ 2012 = II (2012 DMC 35)
3. VISHWANATH S/O SITARAM AGRAWAL Vs. SAU. SARLA VISHWANATH AGRAWAL (MANU/SC/0513/2012) and
4. SAMAR GHOSH Vs. JAYA GHOSH (2007 (3) CTC 464)"
and would submit that the petitioner-wife has clearly stated the incidences of mental and physical cruelty in the petition and also the petitioner has testified the above said facts at the time of evidence and further submitted that the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent was solemnised on 26.1.1996 and on 25.4.2003 onwards the petitioner and respondent were not living together and the petition was filed on 14.5.2003 and it would not be possible for them hereafter to live as husband and wife unitedly and the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent had completely broken down beyond repair and therefore it is a clear case of irretrievable break down of marriage between the parties and therefore the petitioner-wife is entitled to obtain a decree of divorce and the trial Court has correctly dissolved the marriage by granting divorce on the ground of cruelty.
26. In the decision relied on by the respondent-husband in DR.N.G.DASTANE Vs. MRS. S. DASTANE (AIR 1975 SC 1534), it is observed in para No.23 as under:
"23. .... First, as to the nature of burden of proof which rests on a petitioner in a matrimonial petition under the Act. Doubtless, the burden must lie on the petitioner to establish his or her case for, ordinarily the burden lies on the party which affirms a fact, not on the party which denies it. This principle accords with commonsense as it is so much easier to prove a positive than a negative. The petitioner must therefore prove that the respondent has treated him with cruelty within the meaning of Section 10(1)(b) of the Act. "
In the above said decision, the Honourable Supreme Court has clearly laid down the principle that the burden of proof lies on the petitioner to establish his or her case and therefore the petitioner must prove that the respondent has treated her with cruelty.
27. The learned counsel for the respondent-husband has relied on another decision of a Division Bench of this Court in P.ABIRAMI Vs. D.E. TAMILARASAN (2012 (2) CTC 607), in which, para 16 reads as under:
"16. As far as the allegation of mental cruelty is concerned, as rightly submitted by the learned counsel for the Appellant, the acts alleged against the Appellant, which according to the Respondent, amounts to causing mental cruelty, have not been pleaded with material particulars like the date and month. No specific acts which amounted to causing mental cruelty have been pleaded with material particulars. Only general allegations have been made against the Appellant by the Respondent in the Petition. In the Petition before the Court below, it has not been stated that due to the Appellant's higher education and wealth and due to superiority complex what was the nature of the behaviour and what was the activity of the Appellant, which caused mental cruelty to the Respondent. Though it has been alleged in the Petition that the Appellant failed to act as a dutiful wife from the date of marriage till the date she left the matrimonial home, the Petition is silent as to what was the duty that was not performed by her."
In the above decision, this Court has clearly held that as far as the allegation of mental cruelty, the alleged acts have not been pleaded with material particulars like date and month and no specific acts which amounted causing mental cruelty have been pleaded with material particulars and only general allegations have been made and therefore this Court has set aside the decree of divorce granted on the ground of mental cruelty.
28. Further, in the decision of the Honourable Supreme Court in SAMAR GHOSH Vs. JAYA GHOSH (2007 (3) CTC 464), relied on by both the learned counsel for the petitioner/wife and the respondent/husband, it is held in para 74 as under:
"74. .... (ix) Mere trivial irritations, quarrels, normal wear and tear of the married life which happens in day to day life would not be adequate for grant of divorce on the ground of mental cruelty. ...."
In the above said decision, the Honourable Supreme Court has held that mere trivial irritations, quarrels, normal wear and tear of the married life which happens in day to day life would not be adequate for grant of divorce on the ground of mental cruelty.
29. In the instant case, the petitioner-wife has filed petition for divorce on the ground of cruelty and therefore as per the law laid down by the Honourable Supreme Court in the above decision relied on by the respondent/husband, the petitioner/wife has to prove the alleged incidences of cruelty by adducing reliable evidence.
30. Admittedly, to prove the above said incidences of cruelty, on the side of the petitioner/wife, she has not examined any other witness except the interested testimony of the petitioner. Further, on the side of the petitioner, she has marked the marriage invitation as Ex.P1, marriage photo as Ex.P2 and the copy of alleged police complaint dated 28.4.2003 as Ex.P3, given by the petitioner 16 days prior to filing of the petition for divorce and copy of receipt dated 29.4.2003 as Ex.P4 and therefore the oral testimony of the petitioner alone is available to prove the alleged incidences of cruelty. On the side of the respondent/husband, to falsify the contention of the petitioner, the respondent has deposed as RW.1 and also marked Exs.R1 to R13. Admittedly, the marriage was solemnised after six months of betrothal and both the petitioner and respondent's parents' houses are situated nearby. Further, the petitioner herself has admitted in her evidence that the petitioner and respondent were not living along with other family members and immediately after marriage, a separate portion was allotted for them and the parents of the respondent and one brother of the respondent viz. Ravikumar were living in another portion and another elder brother of the respondent viz. Kirubakaran was living in upstair portion separately and both the petitioner and the respondent were living only for six months in the above said house and then constructed a new house and lived separately.
31. Further, it is an admitted fact that the respondent's father viz. Appadurai is a retired Railway employee and getting his pension and also having agricultural lands. It is also revealed that the elder brother of the respondent viz. Kirubakaran is a technically qualified person and he was working in private concern at Ambattur Industrial Estate. Further the petitioner has admitted in her evidence that there is no quarrel between her and the parents of the respondent while living separately in respondent's parents' house and after shifting to new house also, the parents of the respondent came there and the petitioner and respondent also used to visit the respondent's parents' house and also admitted that even after vacating the house, only the brother of the respondent viz. Kirubakaran was living in the portion and not rented out to anybody.
32. In the above circumstances, on the side of the petitioner, she has not stated any specific incident of demanding money from the petitioner by the family members of the respondent, particularly, by the respondent's elder brother Kirubakaran. Therefore the allegations of the petitioner that the respondent's father has chosen the petitioner only in the interest of her income from employment and the entire family of the respondent was depending upon the income of the respondent are not proved by reliable documentary evidence except the interested testimony of the petitioner and as rightly contended by the learned counsel for the respondent, the particulars of demand of money from the petitioner like date, month etc. are not stated in the petition and also not deposed at the time of evidence by the petitioner and therefore the above said incidences of cruelty alleged by the petitioner are not proved.
33. The second and third incidences of cruelty alleged by the petitioner are that the respondent had beaten the petitioner black and blue everyday for not asking money from her parents at the time of purchasing the house at No.49, Janagiram Reddy Colony, Villivakkam and also the respondent went to the extent of dashing the head of the petitioner on the wall by holding her hair in his hands and tortured the petitioner and hence the petitioner requested her parents, who helped by giving Rs.1 lakh from the pension and the respondent and his parents humiliated the petitioner and beaten severely. To prove the above said allegations, except the oral testimony of the petitioner, there is no other oral and documentary evidence. The petitioner has not stated any reason for non-examining the parents of the petitioner to prove the above said demand of money and payment of Rs.1 lakh amount as demanded by the respondent. Further, a perusal of oral evidence of the petitioner reveals that she has deposed completely contradictory with the averments in the petition. In one place, she has stated that before registering document, as demanded by respondent, Rs.25,000/- and after that another Rs.25,000/- was given by her mother and Rs.50,000/- was given by her father and totally Rs.1 lakh was given and after retirement, her father had given Rs.50,000/- i.e., after 2002. The above said fact is not stated in the petition. The same petitioner had again deposed contrary to the above said fact that at the time of purchase of the above said house, the father of the petitioner has not given any amount and only after retirement, he has given amount to the respondent. Admittedly, the above said flat purchased in the year 1998 and the father of the petitioner was retired only in the year 2002 and hence out of retirement benefits, Rs.1 lakh was given to purchase flat is proved as false. The parents of the petitioner alone are competent persons to speak about the facts but they were not examined by the petitioner. Therefore a perusal of oral testimony of the petitioner reveals that the petitioner has falsely deposed about the demand of money as alleged in the petition. The learned counsel for the respondent has further submitted that in the year 1998, the flat was purchased for Rs.4,65,000/- by availing housing loan for Rs.3 lakhs on 5.8.1998 from respondent's bank under the capacity of an employee and to prove the same, Ex.R2 loan sanction letter has been marked and the respondent has availed Rs.75,000/- from Ind Bank Housing Limited on 17.8.1998 and to prove the same, Ex.R3 was marked and the petitioner's mother gave hand loan of Rs.50,000/- and the respondent's father gave hand loan of Rs.40,000/- and the respondent has repaid the hand loan of the petitioner's mother and also the respondent's father on instalment basis. The oral and documentary evidence adduced by the respondent reveal that the allegation of the petitioner that Rs.1 lakh was paid for purchase of the above said flat is false and therefore the alleged second and third cruelties are not proved.
34. With regard to fourth and fifth incidences of cruelty are concerned, except the oral testimony of the petitioner, no other evidence was adduced to prove the above said allegations. The learned counsel for the petitioner would contend that the above said incidences happened between the husband and wife and therefore the petitioner alone is competent to speak about the said fact. Per contra, the learned counsel for the respondent has submitted that if really the above said incidences happened, certainly the petitioner would have informed her parents or relatives or co-workers, but in this case, except the petitioner nobody was examined to prove the above said allegations.
35. Further, the petitioner has stated in her evidence that the respondent assaulted the petitioner and caused injuries and taken treatment in the hospital but she has not produced any document and not examined the doctor or parents of the petitioner or neighbour to prove the above said incident. It is further contended that the petitioner was forced to collect money from her parents and the respondent has beaten black and blue everyday for not asking money from her parents and also alleged that the respondent, his brother and father have jointly humiliated and harassed the petitioner to ask for money from her parents and also encouraged the respondent to beat the petitioner to collect money from her parents. The above allegations are all not proved by adducing reliable evidence. Therefore the fourth and fifth incidences of cruelty are not proved by the petitioner as rightly contended by the learned counsel for the respondent.
36. With regard to sixth and seventh incidences of cruelties are concerned, except the oral testimony of the petitioner, no other evidence like parents, brother, neighbour, co-worker who are competent witnesses was adduced to prove the above said allegations. As already discussed, the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent was held on 26.1.1996 and they were living as husband and wife till 25.4.2003. During the above said period, no complaint of any harassment or any complaint to the police was filed and therefore as contended by learned counsel for appellant/respondent the above said allegations have been made in the petition only for filing the petition for divorce and therefore the above said sixth and seventh cruelties are also not proved.
37. The Trial Court, only relying on the oral testimony of the petitioner, who is interested witness, granted divorce as if the alleged incidences were proved. The Trial Court has not considered the contentions of the respondent and the oral and documentary evidence adduced on the side of the respondent to disprove the contentions of the petitioner. Therefore, a careful reading of oral and documentary evidence adduced by both sides reveal that the petitioner has not proved the alleged incidences of cruelty by reliable oral and documentary evidence, but the Trial Court has wrongly held that as if the petitioner has proved the alleged incidences of cruelty.
38. At the time of argument before this Court, the learned counsel for the petitioner has contended that the marriage was held on 26.1.1996 and from 25.4.2003 onwards both husband and wife were not living together and therefore the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent has completely broken down beyond repair and it is a clear case of irretrievable break down of marriage between the parties and on that ground, he prayed for divorce. To substantiate the above said contention, he relied on two decisions as already stated. In the decision reported in SATISH SITOLE Vs. SMT. GANGA (AIR 2008 SC 3093), the Honourable Supreme Court has observed in para 12 as under:
"12. In the said circumstances, following the decision of this Court in Romesh Chander's case (supra) we also are of the view that since the marriage between the parties is dead for all practical purposes and there is no chance of it being retrieved, the continuance of such marriage would itself amount to cruelty, and, accordingly, in exercise of our powers under Article 142 of the Constitution we direct that the marriage of the appellant and the respondent shall stand dissolved, subject to the appellant paying to the respondent a sum of Rupees Two lakhs by way of permanent alimony. In addition, the appellant shall also pay the costs of this appeal to the respondent assessed at Rs.25,000/-. The appeal is disposed of accordingly."
39. As rightly contended by the learned counsel for the respondent, the Honourable Supreme Court has exercised the power under Article 142 of the Constitution and held that since for 14 years the appellant and respondent lived separately and all attempts for re-union failed, the marriage has been broken down irretrievably and dissolved the marriage in the above decision.
40. In another decision in SAPNA Vs. B. PRADEEP KUMAR (MANU/TN/0823/ 2012 = II (2012 DMC 35), relied on by the learned counsel for the petitioner, this Court also held that the marriage between the wife and husband has completely broken down beyond repair and it is clear case of irretrievable break down of marriage between the parties and therefore granted divorce.
41. In the instant case, the marriage was held on 26.1.1996 and both the respondent and petitioner were living together till 25.4.2003 as husband and wife and out of the said wedlock, they have two children. On the side of the petitioner, she has not proved the fact that the marriage has broken down irretrievably and on that ground alone the petitioner is not entitled to divorce.
42. From the above discussion, we are of the view that the petitioner/wife has not proved the alleged incidences of cruelty by her husband by adducing reliable evidence and the Trial Court has erroneously held that the alleged incidences of cruelty were proved and granted divorce and therefore the above said order of the Trial Court on the ground of cruelty is liable to be set aside.
43. We are also of the considered view that the petitioner wife is not entitled to any amount as permanent alimony since the petition filed by the petitioner/wife for divorce is not maintainable as already discussed in earlier paragraphs. Therefore the petitioner is not entitled for permanent alimony as prayed for in the petition and we answer the points accordingly.
 44.  In the result, the Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is allowed and the order and decretal order dated 27.10.2009 passed by the          Trial Court in F.C.O.P.No.918  of 2003  are set aside and the petition in  F.C.O.P.No.918  of 2003  is dismissed.   Considering the relationship of the parties, there shall be no order as to costs.  Connected  MP.No.1 of 2010 is  closed.

           (C.N.J.)          (R.K.J.)
         16.8.2012
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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Divorce on Cruelty Grounds in India

Grounds For Divorce in India.

In so many Judgments the Hon"ble Supreme Court and Hon"ble High Court has dissolved the marriage on the grounds of cruelty.

for example if the girl has filed a false complaint against the whole family members of the husbands and if the concerned magistrate has discharged the family members in the case of 498a IPC then its a cruelty upon the husband and good grounds for dissolved the marriage.

please see the recent judgment passed by the Hon"ble Delhi High Court in the matter of


See the whole Judgment:

MAT APP No. 98/2010 Page 1 of 11
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
MAT APP No. 98/2010
Judgment delivered on: 19.11.2010
Smt. Nitu Aggarwal ..... Appellant
Through: Mr.Rajiv Shukla, Adv.
Versus
Sh.Gireesh Gupta ..... Respondent
Through: Mr.Gyan Prakash, Adv.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KAILASH GAMBHIR,
1. Whether the Reporters of local papers may
be allowed to see the judgment? Yes
2. To be referred to Reporter or not? Yes
3. Whether the judgment should be reported
in the Digest? Yes
KAILASH GAMBHIR, J. Oral:
*
1. By this appeal filed under Section 28 of the
Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 the appellant seeks to challenge
MAT APP No. 98/2010 Page 2 of 11
the judgment and decree dated 27.4.2010, passed by the
learned Additional District Judge, Delhi, whereby a decree
of judicial separation was passed.
2. Brief facts of the case relevant for deciding the
present appeal are that the parties got married on 5.11.03
at Noida according to Hindu rites and ceremonies and a
female child was born out of wedlock on 14.9.04. The
matrimonial relations between the parties were stained
right from the very beginning of their married life and
distressed by the behaviour of the appellant, the respondent
filed a petition under section 10 of the Hindu Marriage Act,
1955 for a decree of judicial separation on the ground of
cruelty which vide judgment dated 27.4.10 was granted.
Feeling aggrieved with the same, the appellant has filed the
present appeal.
3. Mr. Rajiv Shukla, counsel for the appellant
submits that the learned trial court has wrongly assumed
that the appellant had consumed some poisonous substance
with a view to commit suicide. The contention of the
MAT APP No. 98/2010 Page 3 of 11
counsel for the appellant is that the respondent used to
compel and force the appellant to consume certain
medicines under the pretext that the same were good for
her health and for the child in the womb. Counsel further
submits that the respondent also failed to prove on record
that an attempt of suicide by the appellant was made with
a view to coerce the respondent to accede to any of her
demands and in the absence of any such assertion on the
part of the respondent, no logic or rationale behind the
alleged attempt of suicide by the appellant could be
established by the respondent. Explaining the contradiction
on the part of the appellant in the FIR lodged by her under
Section 498A/406/34 IPC, counsel submits that even if the
appellant in the said FIR took a stand that the respondent
had given her something to drink, the same will not make
any difference vis-à-vis her stand in the matrimonial
proceedings where she had stated that the respondent used
to administer some medicines. Counsel thus submits that
there was a minor variation in the stand of the appellant
which would not amount to any kind of self contradiction on
MAT APP No. 98/2010 Page 4 of 11
her part. Counsel thus states that there is clear infirmity and
perversity in the findings of the learned trial court on this
aspect and the same should be set aside.
4. Assailing the impugned judgment on another
ground, counsel submits that the learned trial court has
wrongly observed that the implication of the relatives of the
respondent is in itself an act of cruelty against the
respondent. The contention of the counsel for the appellant
is that the mere fact that the said relatives were not charge
sheeted by the police would not show that the allegations
leveled by the appellant against the relatives of the
respondent were false. The contention of the counsel is
that at the stage of framing of charges, it would be for the
concerned Criminal Court to see whether based on the
allegations leveled by the appellant in her criminal
complaint such relatives are required to be proceeded
against or not.
5. Counsel for the respondent on the other hand
refutes the submissions made by the counsel for the
MAT APP No. 98/2010 Page 5 of 11
appellant and submits that the present appeal deserves to
be dismissed at the admission stage itself as the appellant
has failed to point out any material illegality or perversity in
the order passed by the learned trial court.
6. I have heard learned counsel for the parties.
7. The petition under Section 10 of the Hindu
Marriage Act was preferred by the respondent husband so
as to seek a decree of judicial separation from the appellant
on the ground of cruelty. The marriage between the parties
was solemnized according to Hindu rites and ceremonies on
5.11.2003 and both the parties are well educated
academically. One of the allegations leveled by the
respondent against the appellant is that the appellant had
consumed some poisonous drink on 18.8.2004 and her
condition became very critical in the morning of 18.8.2004
and she was immediately taken to Kailash Hospital, Noida
and it is only on account of the timely action taken by the
respondent and his parents that life of the appellant and
the unborn child could be saved. It is an admitted case of
MAT APP No. 98/2010 Page 6 of 11
the parties that subsequent to the filing of the said petition
by the respondent husband the appellant wife got
registered one criminal complaint under Section
498A/406/34 IPC vide FIR No. 498/2005 not only against
the respondent but his parents and some other relatives as
well. Some of the relatives implicated by the appellant in the
said complaint case were the residents of far off places like
Saharanpur and Baroda. It is also an admitted case of the
parties that the relatives of the respondent were not chargesheeted
by the police as no incriminating material was
found against them during the course of investigation. The
respondent has taken this false implication of his relatives
on the part of the appellant as a ground of cruelty. Learned
trial court has also granted decree of judicial separation in
favour of the respondent and against the appellant taking
the said two grounds clearly establishing the cruel conduct
of the appellant towards the respondent. Before the learned
trial court as well as before this court the appellant has
failed to disclose as to what kind of medicines were being
administered by the respondent to her during the stage of
MAT APP No. 98/2010 Page 7 of 11
pregnancy on the pretext of the same being good for her
health and that of the unborn child. It is incomprehensible
to accept the argument that the appellant who is a well
qualified lady having a degree of Chartered Accountancy
and Company Secretary would take the medicines without
even knowing what kind of medicines she was taking. The
appellant has also clearly taken a contradictory stand in
her criminal complaint, wherein she stated that she was
given something to drink by the respondent and his parents
on the pretext that it is good for her pregnancy. The
appellant has also not denied the fact that she was admitted
to Kailash Hospital in the morning of 18.8.2004 where she
was treated after having consumed some poisonous
substance. It is also not in dispute that the appellant did not
lodge any police complaint against the respondent or his
parents complaining about administration of some
poisonous medicines by her husband or his parents. The
learned trial court has duly taken into consideration all
these circumstances into account and thus has arrived at a
finding that such an attempt by the appellant to commit
MAT APP No. 98/2010 Page 8 of 11
suicide is an act of cruelty on her part upon her husband.
8. The concept of cruelty is of wide amplitude and has not
been defined in the act. The Apex Court through various
judicial pronouncements has explained the concept and
scope of cruelty. It would be useful here to refer to the
judgment of the Apex Court in the case of A. Jayachandra
vs. Aneel Kaur AIR 2005 SC 534 where it was held as
under:
“12. To constitute cruelty, the conduct complained of should be
"grave and weighty" so as to come to the conclusion that the
petitioner spouse cannot be reasonably expected to live with the
other spouse. It must be something more serious than "ordinary
wear and tear of married life". The conduct, taking into
consideration the circumstances and background has to be
examined to reach the conclusion whether the conduct
complained of amounts to cruelty in the matrimonial law.
Conduct has to be considered, as noted above, in the background
of several factors such as social status of parties, their education,
physical and mental conditions, customs and traditions. It is
difficult to lay down a precise definition or to give exhaustive
description of the circumstances, which would constitute cruelty.
It must be of the type as to satisfy the conscience of the Court
that the relationship between the parties had deteriorated to
such an extent due to the conduct of the other spouse that it
would be impossible for them to live together without mental
agony, torture or distress, to entitle the complaining spouse to
secure divorce. Physical violence is not absolutely essential to
constitute cruelty and a consistent course of conduct inflicting
immeasurable mental agony and torture may well constitute
cruelty within the meaning of Section 10 of the Act. Mental
cruelty may consist of verbal abuses and insults by using filthy
and abusive language leading to constant disturbance of mental
peace of the other party.
MAT APP No. 98/2010 Page 9 of 11
13. The Court dealing with the petition for divorce on the ground
of cruelty has to bear in mind that the problems before it are
those of human beings and the psychological changes in a
spouse's conduct have to be borne in mind before disposing of
the petition for divorce. However, insignificant or trifling, such
conduct may cause pain in the mind of another. But before the
conduct can be called cruelty, it must touch a certain pitch of
severity. It is for the Court to weigh the gravity. It has to be seen
whether the conduct was such that no reasonable person would
tolerate it. It has to be considered whether the complainant
should be called upon to endure as a part of normal human life.
Every matrimonial conduct, which may cause annoyance to the
other, may not amount to cruelty. Mere trivial irritations, quarrels
between spouses, which happen in day-to-day married life, may
also not amount to cruelty. Cruelty in matrimonial life may be of
unfounded variety, which can be subtle or brutal. It may be
words, gestures or by mere silence, violent or non-violent.”
Cruelty therefore is to be garnered taking the cumulative
effect of all the factors into play. The parties are well
educated and such an attempt to end her life by the
appellant would certainly cause mental agony to the
respondent. It would aggravate the case when the appellant
tried to commit suicide in the state of pregnancy. A highly
educated lady claiming that she was administered poisonous
substance which she was unaware of does not help her case.
No doubt in the petition the respondent did not give any
specific reason or cause behind such suicidal attempt but
it goes without saying that such an act even in the absence
MAT APP No. 98/2010 Page 10 of 11
of any reason certainly would constitute an act of cruelty on
the respondent husband.
9. Even on the second argument of the counsel for
the appellant, this court does not find any merit in it. The
complaint under Section 498A/406/34 IPC was lodged by the
appellant during the pendency of the said petition filed by
the respondent for judicial separation. In her complaint the
appellant roped in various relatives of the respondent which
include his uncle and aunt residing at Saharanpur and
brother and sister in law residing at Baroda. The learned
trial court is right in taking a view that false implication of
relatives who were residing at far off places from the
matrimonial home of the appellant and against whom there
are no specific allegations of cruelty in itself is an act of
cruelty by the appellant towards her husband. However, as
these relatives were not charge-sheeted by the police the
same would clearly show that the police did not find any
incriminating material against these relatives during the
investigation and this by itself is sufficient enough to show
MAT APP No. 98/2010 Page 11 of 11
that the appellant had roped in and implicated all these
relatives with vengeance to cause unnecessary harassment
to them and such act certainly would cause cruelty to the
husband with whom they are related. Implicating the
relatives with a motive to harass the relatives, residing in
different parts of the country, is nothing but a ruthless act of
harassment. Therefore, the respondent husband has
successfully proved cruelty on the part of the appellant on
both the counts.
10. In the light of the above, this court does not find
any infirmity or illegality in the findings arrived at by the
learned trial court. There is no merit in the present appeal
and the same is hereby dismissed at the stage of admission
itself.
November 19, 2010 KAILASH GAMBHIR, J
mg