JUDGMENT :

G.S. SISTANI, J.

1. The present appeal has been filed under Section 19 of the Family Courts Act, 1984 against the judgment dated 22.01.2018 passed by the Family Court by which the petition filed by the respondent/husband seeking divorce under Section 13(1) (ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (hereinafter referred to as ‘HMA’) has been allowed and the marriage has been dissolved by a decree of divorce.

2. The necessary facts to be noticed for the disposal of the present appeal are that the marriage between the parties was solemnized on 20.11.1977, at Patel Nagar, New Delhi, as per Sikh rites and ceremonies. Three children were born from the said wedlock. The parties have been living separately since 1995. A petition under Section 9 of HMA was filed by the appellant/wife in the year 2008, a compromise was arrived between the parties on 12.09.2008. The petition seeking divorce under Section 13(1) (ia) of HMA was filed by the respondent/husband on 01.08.2009.

3. The grounds on which the divorce was sought were that the appellant/wife was stated to be in an illicit relationship with one Mohd. Ahmad Ansari, a rickshaw puller, who used to drop the children of the appellant/wife an