IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT KALABURAGI BENCH
S.G. PANDIT, M.G.S. KAMAL, JJ.
Smt. Savita W/o Ravindra Chougala – Appellant
Versus
Ravindra S/o Bapuji Chougala – Respondent
Miscellaneous First Appeal No. 200679 of 2019
Decided On : 28-06-2021
Family Courts Act - Section 19(1) - Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 - Section 13(1)(iii)(a), 13(1)(ia)(iii)(a) – Appeal - Dissolving marriage - Respondent husband filed a petition under Section 13(1)(ia)(iii)(a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, contending inter-alia that his marriage with the appellant-wife was solemnized as per Hindu rights and customs and was also registered with the Sub-Registrar - Whether petitioner proves that respondent treated him with mental cruelty as alleged in the petition - Whether the petitioner proves that the respondent is suffering from Schizophrania, i.e. incurable unsound mind - Whether petitioner is entitled for the relief as sought in the petition – Held, Family Court while answering the point with regard to the petition under Section 13(1)(ia), has referred filed by the respondent - The Family Court has referred to certain photographs purportedly showing abrasion, contusion and bleeding injuries on his back and beneath the eye and concluded that the respondent sustained the said injuries because of the assault by appellant’s brother - Family Court in our opinion, erred in attributing cruelty on the part of appellant on the basis of the alleged injuries suffered by the respondent purportedly caused by appellant’s brother - The said allegation being subject-matter of the case was only at the crime stage - There is no material placed on record by the appellant with regard to inquiry, investigation, trial and conclusion of the said proceedings – Court considered opinion, cannot be the basis for attributing cruelty on the appellant-wife resulting in dissolution of marriage of the appellant with the respondent - Merely because the appellant has not challenged or contested the case of the respondent, the Family Court ought not to have accepted the version of the respondent - Even assuming that the brother of the appellant had assaulted the respondent, without legally acceptable material evidence, same could not have been relied upon by the trial court - Appeal allowed.
JUDGMENT :
M.G.S. KAMAL, J.
1. This appeal is filed under Section 19(1) of the Family Courts Act by the appellant-wife against the Judgment and Order dated 12.03.2019 passed in M.C. No. 87/2019 by the Principal Judge, Family Court, Vijayapura, dissolving the marriage dated 09.12.2009.
2. Brief facts of the case are that the respondenthusband filed a petition under Section 13(1)(ia)(iii)(a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, contending inter-alia that his marriage with the appellant-wife was solemnized on 09.12.2009 as per Hindu rights and customs and was also registered with the Sub-Registrar, Dharwad on 07.04.2010. That after the marriage, respondent and appellant resided together as husband and wife at Dharwad. It is alleged that the appellant was suspecting the respondent of having illicit relationship with another woman. That the appellant had conceded with the respondent that she was subjected to cruelty and humiliation at her parental house by her father and elder brother because she was a left-hander. That she was suffering from Asthama. That she gave birth to a daughter on 04.09.2013 who was named Mahi. That the appellant was suffering from illusionary problem. That during February 2016, she had told that she was suffering from breast cancer and on examination, it turned out to be an illusion, then her family members had also told that she was suffering from said illusionary problem. That she was being treated for the said issue with one Dr. Vinod Kulkarni at Hubli. Thereafter, she had some gynaeocological problems, for which she was treated by a doctor at Tavargere who had diagnosed her of Prolactin supposed to have been caused due to the side-effects of the tablets prescribed by Dr. Vinod Kulkarni. That the appellant left the matrimonial home on the pretext of visiting her parents. That on 02.11.2016, the brother of the appellant, with the help of three to four person, forcibly took the respondent herein to Vijayapura and assaulted him severely. That the father of the respondent herein had filed a missing complaint before the Sub-urban Police Station, Dharwad. That the parents of the appellant had taken forcible statements from the respondent herein threatening him of his life with dire consequences. Thereafter, the respondent came to Dharwad and took treatment and lodged a private complaint before the JMFC Court, Dhawad in PCR No. 376/2016. That it was then confirmed to the respondent herein that the appellant was indeed suffering from Schizophrania. Thus, the respondent was subjected to cruelty by the appellant and her family members and therefore, constrained to file a petition seeking dissolution of marriage.
3. Upon service of notice, the appellant-wife appeared before the Family Court. Matter was referred to mediation, but failed. The appellant had neither filed objections nor contested the matter.
4. Based on the pleadings, the Family Court framed the following points for its consideration:
(i) Whether the petitioner proves that respondent treated him with mental cruelty as alleged in the petition?
(ii) Whether the petitioner proves that the respondent is suffering from Schizophrania, i.e. incurable unsound mind?
(iii) Whether the petitioner is entitled for the relief as sought in the petition?
(iv) What order or decree?
5. The respondent examined himself as PW-1 and got exhibited 13 documents marked as Ex.P1 to P13. Appellant neither cross-examined the respondent nor lead any evidence. The Family Court, after considering the evidence made available, answered the Point No(i) in affirmative and Point No. (ii) in negative and held Point No. (iii) in affirmative. Consequently, passed the Judgment and Order dated 12.03.2019 dissolving the marriage dated 09.12.2009 under Section 3(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and dismissed the petition under Section 13(1)(iii)(a) of the Act.
6. Aggrieved by the aforesaid Judgment and Order dated 12.03.2019, the appellant-wife has filed the present appeal.
7. At this juncture, it is nec
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