IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
R. Devdas, J.
Parubai – Appellant
Versus
Ragvendra – Respondent
MFA 200958/2014
Decided On : 27-10-2021
Divorce - Hindu Marriage Act - Sec. 13(1)(ia) - The court granted a decree of divorce on the ground of cruelty by the wife. The judgment and decree of the trial court were upheld by the appellate court. The court found that the marriage bond was broken irretrievably due to loss of mutual trust and faith, and the wife's refusal to share the bed and making scandalous character assassination amounted to mental cruelty. The court also emphasized that the marriage had been wrecked beyond the hope of salvage, and all efforts for reconciliation had failed.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner husband filed a petition seeking divorce on the ground of cruelty by the respondent wife. The wife denied the allegations and made counter-allegations against the husband. After hearing the arguments and perusing the trial court records, the court considered the factual matrix leading to the case and the evidence presented by both parties.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the marriage bond was broken irretrievably due to loss of mutual trust and faith, and the wife's refusal to share the bed and making scandalous character assassination amounted to mental cruelty. The court also emphasized that the marriage had been wrecked beyond the hope of salvage, and all efforts for reconciliation had failed.
Issues: The main issue was whether the trial court erred in granting a decree of divorce on the ground of cruelty and whether the judgment and decree of the trial court were erroneous, illegal, and arbitrary so as to call for any interference by the appellate court.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that to constitute cruelty, the conduct complained of should be 'grave and weighty' so as to make it impossible for the petitioner spouse to live with the other spouse. The court also emphasized that mental cruelty may consist of verbal abuses and insults leading to constant disturbance of mental peace. Additionally, the court found that the marriage bond was beyond repair, and continuing the marriage bond only for the sake of records would serve no purpose.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed, and the judgment and decree of the trial court were upheld.
JUDGMENT :
1. The respondent has filed this Misc. First Appeal under Sec. 19(1) of the Family Courts Act, 1984 challenging the judgment and decree passed by the Family Court, Gulbarga in M.C.No.108/2013 dtd. 30/4/2014 whereby it has allowed the petition filed under Sec. 13(1)(ia) of Hindu Marriage Act filed by the husband-respondent herein and dissolved the marriage by decree of divorce.
2. For the sake of convenience, the parties herein are referred with the original ranks occupied by them before the trial Court.
3. The factual matrix leading to this case are that, the petitioner husband has filed the petition under Sec. 13(1)(ia) of Hindu Marriage Act seeking divorce against the respondent wife. It is alleged that the petitioner and respondent are the legally wedded husband and wife and their marriage was solemnized on 7/11/2011 at Venkateshwar Kalyan Mantap, Gulbarga and it was a love cum arranged marriage. That after the marriage, respondent has joined the company of the petitioner and out of the said wedlock a son by name Aryan was born on 19/8/2012. It is alleged that after the birth of the child, the relationship between the petitioner and respondent become strained and respondent had refused to prepare/cook the food in the house and also she had not cooperated with the petitioner in marital obligation. It is further alleged that respondent has refused to cohabit with the petitioner and did not allow the petitioner any physical contact with her without any reasons and refused to share bed with him which amounts to mental cruelty. It is also alleged that she used to insist for payment of entire salary to her and later on she ousted the petitioner from his house. It is also alleged that the respondent is suspecting the character of the petitioner making allegation that he is having illicit relationship with others and the marriage bond was irretrievably broken down and there is no possibility to reunion. Hence, the petitioner claims that the act of the respondent amounts to cruelty and sought for dissolution of the marriage.
4. The respondent has appeared and admitted the relationship, but denied the other allegations. She has contended that the petitioner is addicted to bad habits like drinking alcohol, gambling and womanizing and he is a short tampered person, behaved in abnormal and indifferent manner. She alleged that he used to come to house late in the night and used to insist her to bring dowry from her parents. She also alleged that he sexually harassed her by beating her and used to abuse her in filthy language and she tolerated all these ill-treatment with a hope of change in the attitude of the petitioner in future but there was no improvement. It is alleged that petitioner has not married the respondent whole heartedly as he is having eagle eye over the salary of the respondent and other allowances. Hence, she has sought for rejection of the petition.
5. Initially during the trial before the Family Court, the matter was referred to conciliation, but it did not materialized. Then petitioner himself was got examined as PW-1 and his father was examined as PW-2 and one witness was examined as PW-3. The petitioner has placed reliance on two documents marked at Ex.P1 and Ex.P2. The respondent got herself examined as DW-1 and one another witness was examined as DW-2. Ex.D1 was marked which is pertaining to call details between petitioner and one Saroja.
6. We have heard the arguments advanced by the learned counsel for appellant and the learned counsel for respondent at length. We have also perused the trial court records in detail.
7. The learned counsel for appellant would contend that the judgment and decree under the appeal is contrary to law and records of the case. He would also contended that Ex.P2 is not a authenticated document which is inadmissible in evidence and it cannot be looked into. He would also contend that non performance of daily activities alone does not amount to cruelty and he would further contend
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the marriage bond can be considered broken irretrievably due to mental cruelty, loss of mutual trust and faith, and the refusal to share the b....
The court established that allegations of character assassination and refusal to cohabit can amount to mental cruelty, justifying divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act.
The court affirmed that the evidence of persistent cruelty justified the dissolution of marriage under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, establishing a clear breakdown of the marital relat....
The main legal point established in the judgment is that mental cruelty in matrimonial matters must be of such a nature that the parties cannot reasonably be expected to live together, and the intent....
Cruelty as a ground for divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act requires substantial proof, which was not established in this case.
(1) Cruelty may be mental or physical, intentional or unintentional – A dead marriage must be given a decent quietus.(2) A marriage which has broken down irretrievably, spells cruelty to both parties....
The court established that mental cruelty, evidenced by the respondent's behavior, justified the dissolution of marriage under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act.
The main legal point established is that prolonged separation, false accusations, and reluctance for sexual relations can constitute cruelty under Section 13(1)(i-a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
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