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2013 Supreme(Del) 608

High Court of Delhi
PRADEEP NANDRAJOG & V. KAMESWAR RAO, JJ.
Suman Singh
Versus
Sanjay Singh
FAO No. 108, 109 of 2013
Decided On : 23-05-2013

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant:Ms. Padmini Gupta, Advocate.
For the Respondent:Respondent in person.

Headnote:

Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 - Section 13(1)(ia) - Divorce - Cruelty against husband - Wife caused mental cruelty - It was the claim of husband that wife treated him with cruelty after their marriage was solemnized - Wife claimed that it was husband who treated her with cruelty and that she was ready to forgive husband and lead a matrimonial life with him - Trial Judge accepted the case set up by husband that wife had treated him with cruelty - Wife filed numerous false complaints against husband and his family members with the police and in his office that husband and his family members used to demand dowry from her and treated her with cruelty when she failed to fulfill their demands and that husband was having an illicit relation with his colleague - Held: Wife had caused mental cruelty to husband thereby entitling him to a decree of divorce - Appeal dismissed.

Judgment :-

Pradeep Nandrajog, J.

1. On February 26, 1999, respondent Sanjay and appellant Suman got happily married and the two were blessed with a daughter born on June 15, 2002 followed by another bundle of delight, another daughter born on February 10, 2006.

2. Unfortunately, relations soured with passage of time. Sanjay sought dissolution of the marriage alleging cruelty and Suman sought restitution of her conjugal rights.

3. Both Sanjay and Suman reached the Court on July 19, 2010. It appears both were aware of the action proposed to be taken by the other. Petition filed by Sanjay under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act was filed on July 19, 2010, which was the date when Suman’s application under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act was also filed.

4. Whereas Suman alleged that within a few days of the marriage Sanjay’s behaviour changed because he was aggrieved of insufficient dowry brought by her notwithstanding her family members having spent lavishly when the two got married; but she bore him. His behavior turned rude and he started picking up quarrel on trivial matters and additionally he would even turn physical, but she continued to suffer to maintain the family bond but realized that Sanjay have developed intimacy with another woman and had left the matrimonial house compelling her to seek restitution of her conjugal rights. Sanjay pleaded that the marriage was a dowry-less marriage and during 10 years thereafter he was regularly harassed and tortured by Suman who degraded and insulted him at the drop of the hat and even would misbehave with his parents. To save the marriage he left his parents and since January 2005 started living separately from his parents. But Suman’s attitude did not change. In the year 2006 he purchased Flat No.91, Pocket IV, Sector-2, Rohini in Suman’s name hoping that she would improve. But she did not. She even started visiting his office and created ugly scenes by abusing him. She not only threatened but lodged false complaints with the police alleging false facts against him and his parents. She repeatedly threatened to commit suicide and leave a note recording false facts to teach him and his parents a lesson.

5. Sanjay’s written statement to Suman’s petition is his version pleaded in the petition filed by him seeking dissolution of the marriage; of course he denied the insinuations against him, and as regards Suman, she denied the insinuation against her but pleaded that theirs was a love marriage solemnized on March 22, 1997 without telling the parents and that subsequently, in front of her parents she and Sanjay performed the rituals of marriage on February 26, 1999. For 3 years after the marriage she and Sanjay lived with a friend and shifted to the house of Sanjay’s parents in May 2002 but since they never approved of the marriage she and Sanjay shifted to a residential accommodation before Sanjay purchased a flat in her name in Rohini part sale consideration whereof was paid by her mother; but would continue to harass and misbehave with her. He developed intimate relations with a lady named Jyoti and therefore wanted Suman to divorce her and that Sanjay was pressurizing her mother to transfer ownership of her property situated in Sultanpuri in his favour.

6. In HMA No.527/2010 filed by Suman, following issues were settled:-

“1. Whether the Petitioner is entitled to the restitution of conjugal rights as prayed? OPP

2. Relief.”

7. In HMA No.685/2010 filed by Sanjay, following issues were settled:-

“1. Whether after solemnization of marriage, the Respondent has treated the Petitioner with cruelty? OPP

2. Whether the Petitioner is entitled to the decree of divorce as prayed? OPP

3. Relief.”

8. Evidence was led by the parties in HMA No.685/2010 filed by Sanjay. In support of his case, Sanjay examined himself as PW-1. In his examination-in-chief, Sanjay PW-1 deposed on the lines of averments made in the divorce petition filed by him. He was cross-examined, and being relevant, a



















































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