IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
P. B. BAJANTHRI and ALOK KUMAR PANDEY, JJ.
Miscellaneous Appeal No.1 of 2018
(10.7.2024)
Nand Kishore Nandan @ Nand Kishore Rai @ Pappu ... Appellant
vs.
Rita Devi ... Respondents
Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 – Section 13(1)(iii) – Appellant-husband seeking divorce on the ground of respondent-wife suffering from mental disorder – Mental illness has not been proved by the evidence adduced by the husband (Appellant) as the doctor who is treating the respondent has not been examined – Author of medical prescription (Ext. 2) not examined and in absence of his examination, the same has no evidentiary value in the eye at law – Ext.-3, the medical report is not authenticated document and its author has also not been examined which has no evidentiary value in the eye of law – In this way, all the documentary exhibits have no evidentiary value in the eye of law to prove the mental disorder of the respondent which is alleged in the divorce petition – The medical report does not suggest any abnormality – The appellant has made bold allegation of mental illness which is not supported by any documentary evidence – Appellant himself is on fault in not cooperating with his wife and has developed a well-calculated device to overcome his own fault where respondent-wife and other witnesses have stated that the appellant himself has settled a second marriage and appellant himself has made a safe path to leave the respondent-wife by seeking divorce on the ground of mental illness which is beyond any stretch of imagination – The appeal has no merit and is dismissed accordingly. (Paras 14 & 19)
Ram Narain Gupta Vs. Smt. Rameshwari Gupta, (1988) 4 SCC 247; Smt. Rita Roy Vs. Sitesh Chandra, AIR 1982 Cal. 138; Kollam Chandra Sekhar Vs. Kollam Padma Latha, (2014) 1 SCC 225 – Relied.
Alok Kumar Pandey, J.—The present appeal is directed against the judgment dated 23.09.2017 and decree dated 07.10.2017 passed by learned Principal Judge, Family Court, Vaishali at Hajipur in Divorce Case No. 39 of 2011, whereby and whereunder the application filed by the appellant-husband under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 has been dismissed.
2. Briefly stated facts of the present case is that appellant/petitioner married with opposite party/ respondent on 20.04.2007 at the paternal house of the respondent. It is stated in the petition that respondent was feeble minded since childhood and her behaviour was not normal as she used to attack someone and the said unusual conduct made by the respondent was not intimated to the father of the appellant and marriage of respondent was solemnized with appellant by concealing the aforesaid fact. After marriage, the respondent/wife (Rita Devi) came to the house of the appellant and her behaviour was witnessed by appellant's side which was not normal. She started behaving in a strange way. Her behaviour was so unusual that she was presumed to be in intoxicated condition. Her strange behaviour was intimated to the father of the respondent who came there and after administering medicine, she became normal. It is stated that brother and father gave medicine to respondent and when query was made regarding the medicine taken by the respondent from the chemist, it is found that she was suffering from mental illness. It is further stated that respondent was taken by her father. On 20.04.2010, respondent was dropped at the house of the appellant. The appellant started treatment of respondent but her condition did not improve. On 06.03.2011, father and two brothers of respondent came to the house of the appellant and on 07.03.2011 they took away respondent and her jewellery and clothes. It is further averred that appellant remained mentally as well as physically worried due to lunatic behaviour of the respondent. It is further stated that no child has taken birth despite lapse of four years of marriage and appellant is facing danger of his life on account of cruel and lunatic behaviour of respondent.
3. Pursuant to the notice, respondent appeared and Court has taken effort for amicable settlement between both the parties but of no avail.
4. Respondent had filed written statement denying all the allegations regarding her mental condition. It has been stated that appellant has remarried with one Rinki Kumari and leading his conjugal life with her. It has been denied that behaviour of respondent is aggressive and she is suffering from madness. It has also been specifically denied that respondent was treated by any Neurologist. It has been submitted that on account of non fulfillment of demand of Alto Car, respondent was tortured in her matrimonial home and her husband solemnized marriage with Rinki Kumari. It has also been submitted that divorce case has been filed by the appellant on fabricated documents which is fit to be dismissed.
5. Learned counsel for the appellant submitted that the Family Court failed to appreciate the evidences of the witnesses produced on behalf of the appellant. Learned counsel further submitted that the Family Court did not examine the documentary evidence produced by the appellant meticulously. Learned counsel further submitted that Family Court did not examine the genuineness of the document written by father of the respondent/opposite party. He further submitted that Family Court ignored the medical report produced on behalf of the appellant and all the evidences produced by the appellant categorically stated that respondent is a mental case.
6. Learned counsel for the respondent submitted that respondent intends to reside with the appellant. Learned counsel further submitted that appellant has failed to prove the case on the basis of material available on record that respondent is mentally derailed. Learned counsel further submitted that there is nothing on re
Mental cruelty can constitute valid grounds for divorce where one spouse exhibits severe, uncontrollable behavior affecting the other’s peace of mind.
The central legal point established in the judgment is that the evidence did not support the claim that the respondent's mental illness made it impossible for the petitioner to lead a normal conjugal....
The court ruled that allegations of mental unsoundness and cruelty were unsubstantiated, affirming the lower court's decision to dismiss the dissolution of marriage suit.
Insufficient evidence of mental disorder or cruelty fails to establish grounds for divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act.
The Court held that mere existence of mental disorder is insufficient for a divorce decree; sufficient evidence proving the severity affecting marital life is necessary.
The court established that mere mental disorder is insufficient for divorce; the severity must be proven, and prolonged separation can indicate desertion.
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