IN THE HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
GOUTAM BHADURI, N.K. CHANDRAVANSHI, JJ.
Tikeshwari Chouhan W/o Shri Anil Chouhan – Appellant
Versus
Anil Chouhan S/o Shri Laxman Singh Chouhan – Respondent
F.A. (MAT) No. 50 of 2019
Decided On : 08-12-2022
Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 - Section 13 (1)(i-a) – Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 155, 125 - Decree of divorce - Cruelty - Appeal has been preferred by appellant/wife against judgment and decree passed whereby application filed by respondent/husband seeking divorce was allowed in favour of respondent/ husband – Held, Continuous harrassment by wife to husband to live separately from his parents and to fulfill her such wish persistently giving threat to commit suicide, which compelled husband to make various complaint against her - In this regard husband has narrated various incidents - Hence, it could not be said that they are mere trivial irritations, quarrels or normal wear and tear of married life, because it happened between parties for about two years - Such conduct and behaviour of wife for such a long period, of-course constitute physical and mental cruelty by her against respondent/husband – Court is of opinion that trial Court has not committed any error in granting decree of divorce in favour of husband on ground of cruelty meted out to him by appellant/wife – FAM dismissed.
JUDGMENT :
N.K. CHANDRAVANSHI, J.
1. Present appeal has been preferred by the appellant/wife against the judgment and decree dated 17.10.2019 passed by First Additional Principal Judge, Family Court, Raipur in H.M.A. No. 322/15 whereby application filed by respondent/husband seeking divorce under Section 13 (1)(i-a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (henceforth “the Act 1955”) was allowed in favour of respondent/husband.
2. Facts of the case, in brief, are that an application under Section 13 (1) (i-a) of the Act, 1955 was filed by the respondent/husband for grant of decree of divorce before Family Court, Raipur pleading inter-alia that his marriage was solemnized with the appellant/wife on 17.05.2011 according to Hindu rites and rituals, but after marriage attitude and behaviour of wife was not good and respectful towards husband and his parents. She always used to quarrel and abuse on petty issues along with them. After 10 days of their marriage, marriage of younger sister of husband was scheduled to be held and on the said occasion relatives were coming, at that time, wife started quarreling with them to live separately. Paternal house of wife is also at Raipur, hence, she used to go there without informing husband and despite several efforts to bring her back, she did not return for many days. After about 4-5 months of their marriage, she went to her paternal home without informing them and when she was talked over telephone by husband, she got angered and used filthy language and also threatened to commit suicide, then husband somehow managed to bring her back. On 25.04.2012, she again quarreled with husband to live separately from his parents and threatened to implicate them in dowry case and send them to jail. She also refused to celebrate their first wedding anniversary on 17.05.2012, as at that time she was at her parental home. On assurance given by the parents of wife, that she will not quarrel and also not compel to live separately, husband brought her back on 30.05.2012, but after few days, she again started quarreling on petty issues with her husband and mother-in-law and also insisting to live separately. Whenever husband tried to explain her not to do such type of act, she threatened to commit suicide by saying that “you always keep your parents' side.” When mother-in-law did not permit her to keep fast, as she (wife) was pregnant at the relevant point of time, then wife quarreled with her in front of husband and his father. Thereafter, wife did not talk with husband for many days and due to her such attitude, mother of husband was compelled to do household work, as wife did not do the said household work. Firstly when the husband & his family members has made complaint to her father about her such attitude & behaviour, then her brother came and took her at parental house, while going, the wife threatened to kill their child. From December, 2012 to June, 2013, wife did not return, hence, husband made complaint (Ex.P-1) at Police Station Amanaka, Raipur on 12.06.2013.
2.1. On being given intimation (Ex.P-2) under Section 155 of the Cr.P.C. husband made complaint on 22.06.2013 (Ex.P-3) at Mahila Police Station, Raipur. On the same day, wife delivered female child and when the said fact was informed to the husband, he went to the Hospital to meet them, but she refused to come back with him. Despite being asked by husband, wife did not permit him to celebrate birth of child by organizing function at his house.
2.2. After first phase of counseling held between 6.7.2013 to 12.8.2013, on 18.08.2013, wife alongwith her parents and brother came to the house of husband and her parents threatened, that if they will not keep their daughter, then she would commit suicide by ablazing herself in front of all, thereafter, her parents left her at her matrimonial home. Feeling aggrieved & dissatisfied with the allegation made by her parents, husband returned Centro Car, which he had received in the marriage. After 1 or 2 months, wife a
Dr. N.G. Dastane vs. Mrs. S. Dastane
Gurbux Singh vs. Harminder Kaur
The main legal point established in the judgment is the application of the concept of mental cruelty under Section 13(1)(i-a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and the consideration of irretrievable b....
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 judgment emphasizes the need for conduct to be 'grave and weighty' to constitute mental cruelty for divorce, and the impact on the wronged party's ability to continue the matrimonial relationship....
Cruelty as a ground for divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act requires substantial proof, which was not established in this case.
Cruelty in matrimonial relationships can be inferred from sustained neglect and false allegations, entitling a spouse to divorce under Hindu Marriage Act.
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