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1990 Supreme(Kar) 564

Karnataka High Court
Hanamappa Chetrappa Koppal - Appellant
Versus
Nil - Respondent
Decided On : 10-23-90
C.R.P. : 3594 of 1990

Advocates:
F.S.DABALI

The waiting period specified in Section 13-B (2) of the Hindu Marriage Act should not prevent the grant of a decree of divorce by mutual consent if the parties have been living separately for more than a year and mutually agree to dissolve the marriage.

Headnote:

Divorce - Hindu Marriage Act - Section 13-B - Summary of Acts and Sections: Section 13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 - The court discussed the provisions of Section 13-B (1) and (2) of the Act, which allow for a decree of divorce by mutual consent after a period of one year of living separately, and a motion not earlier than six months and not later than eighteen months after the presentation of the petition. The court interpreted the provisions and considered relevant case law to determine the applicability of the waiting period before granting the decree of divorce.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioners sought a decree of divorce by mutual consent under Section 13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act, stating that they had been living separately for more than a year and mutually agreed to dissolve the marriage. The Civil Judge initially refused to grant the decree before the expiry of 18 months from the date of the petition, citing the provisions of Section 13-B (2) of the Act.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the waiting period specified in Section 13-B (2) of the Act should not be an absolute bar to granting a decree of divorce by mutual consent if the parties have been living separately for more than a year and mutually agree to dissolve the marriage. The court held that the waiting period is a procedural formality and should not prevent the grant of divorce if it is in the interest of both parties.

Issues: The main issue was whether the court should wait for the completion of the 18-month period from the date of the joint application for a decree of divorce by mutual consent, as required under Section 13-B (2) of the Act.

Ratio Decidendi: The court interpreted Section 13-B (2) as a procedural provision that should be construed to advance the interest of justice. It emphasized that the waiting period should not be an impediment to granting a decree of divorce if the parties have been living separately for more than a year and mutually agree to dissolve the marriage.

Final Decision: The court set aside the order of the Civil Judge and granted a decree of divorce, declaring the marriage between the petitioners to be dissolved under Section 13-B of the Act.

JAGANNATHA SHETTY, J.

( 1 ) THIS Civil Revision Petition is filed by the petitioners against the order passed in M. C. No. 23 of 1989, dated 18-6-1990 by the Civil Judge, gadag, praying therein to set aside the impugned order and to grant a decree of divorce declaring the marriage to be dissolved under sub-section (2) of Section 13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 ('act' for short ).

( 2 ) BRIEFLY stated facts are that the petitioners were married according to Hindu rites on 18-12-1988 at Hole Alur in Ron taluk. After the marriage, they lived together for a period of one week in the first petitioners house. But the second petitioner did not allow the 1st petitioner her husband to have any matrimonial connection with her. They started living separately from each other after about three weeks of their marriage. They have not been able to live together and the marriage between them was completely broken and there was no possibility of reconciliation and, therefore, they filed a petition under section 13 (B) (1) of the Act, for a decree of divorce by mutual consent on 25-10-1989.

( 3 ) IN the petition it is stated that after the marriage the petitioners lived together hardly for one week and there was no matrimonial connection. The 2nd petitioner thereafter left the 1st petitioner and went to her parents house. Eversince then both the petitioners are living separately. It is averred in the petition that they have lost interest in each other and their relationship was strained. It is also averred that it is impossible for them to continue as husband and wife. It appears that there was some attempt by the elders of the family of both parties to bring about conciliation between them. But they were not agreeable to live together.

( 4 ) THAT on 1-6-1990 and 12-6-1990 the Court recorded the statements of the petitioners, wherein both the petitioners have reiterated the position stated in the joint application and further requested to grant a decree of divorce to dissolve the marriage as having been living separately for more than a period of one year, that they have not been able to live together and therefore they have mutually agreed that the marriage to be dissolved.

( 5 ) THE learned Civil Judge, after considering the statements of the parties recorded in the open court, passed the impugned order that no Judgment could be passed before the expiry of 18 months from the date of presentation of the joint application for a decree of divorce by mutual consent under Section 13-B (1) of the Act. In the order the learned Civil Judge, has observed that both the petitioners have examined themselves on 1-6-1990 and 12- 6-1990 and they clearly stated in their evidence that both have psychological differences of opinion and physically they are incapable of enjoying the married life and if the marriage is continued, the lives of both the petitioners will be subjected to untold difficulties and harassment.

( 6 ) THE operative portion of the order of the learned Civil Judge, reads as follows: "no doubt, Section 13-B (1) of the Act provides for passing of a decree for divorce by mutual consent of the husband and wife; but passing of such decree prior to 18 months of the presentation of the petition would be against the intention of the Legislature since the Act has given a period of 18 months from the date of presentation of petition giving an opportunity to both parties to withdraw the petition and therefore only the Court must hold an enquiry and dissolve the marriage between the petitioners and not earlier to it. Therefore, i am not pronouncing the Judgment in this case, as 18 months period contemplated under Section 13-B (2) of the Hindu Marriage act, has not yet reached. Therefore, the Judgment has to be pronounced in this case only after 25-4-1991. Hence, the case is posted after 25-4-1991. It comes in summer vacation. So fix date on re-opening day i. e. , May 1991. "

( 7 ) PETITIONERS being aggrieved by the order of the learned Civil Judge, h



















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