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2013 Supreme(Guj) 155

HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT
BHASKAR BHATTACHARYA, CJ., AND J.B. PARDIWALA, J.
Pramodkumar C. Shah – Appellant
Versus
Rajulaben Pramodkumar Shah - Respondent
First Appeal No. 1399 of 2009 with Civil Application No. 4232 of 2009 in First Appeal No. 1399 of 2009 with Misc. Application No. 2551 of 2009 in First Appeal No. 1399 of 2009
Decided on : 22.04.2013
Text1

Advocates appeared:
Mr. M.B. Gohil, Advocate for the Appellant
Mr. Suresh S. Patel, Advocate for the Defendant

Headnote:

Family Courts Act, 1984 - Section 19- Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, Section 13(1)(ia), (ib) - Appeal under Section 19 of the Family Courts Act, 1984, is at the instance of a unsuccessful plaintiff-Husband in a suit for divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act and is directed against the judgment and decree, passed by the Family Court, in Family Suit by which the Family Court dismissed the suit - Held, Merely not able to prove cannot be in all cases categorised as false -Wife could not prove her allegations as regards involvement of the husband and other women as alleged - Trial Judge in the facts of the present case committed no error, not to speak of any error of law in concluding that the husband was not entitled to get a decree for divorce on the ground of cruelty as alleged in the plaint and oral evidence - The husband has failed to prove the offence of desertion, like other matrimonial offence, even on preponderance of probability - The husband has also failed to prove that the wife abandoned the matrimonial home and declined to cohabit with him thus, forbearing to perform the matrimonial obligation -Appellant who can be said to be at fault and is trying to take advantage of his own wrong -Do not find any good reason to disturb judgment of Trial Judge rejecting petition for divorce - Appeal dismissed

Judgment

MR. J.B. PARDIWALA, J.

1. This appeal under Section 19 of the Family Courts Act, 1984, is at the instance of a unsuccessful plaintiff-Husband in a suit for divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act and is directed against the judgment and decree dated 27.02.2009, passed by the Family Court, Ahmedabad, in Family Suit No.437 of 2000 by which the Family Court dismissed the suit.

2. At the outset, we may state that first in point of time the present appeal was taken up for hearing by a Division Bench of this High Court on 11th September, 2009. The Division Bench took the view that the parties had married in the Year-1982 and were estranged from each other since 1991. The Division Bench took the view that the marriage between the parties solemnized on 15.02.1982 had broken beyond repairs and it was the case of irretrievable break down of marriage. The Court also took the view that there was no possibility of reconciliation after nearly 20 years of separation and in such circumstances the Family Court ought to have passed a decree for divorce. The Court, in the circumstances, awarded monthly maintenance of Rs.10,000/- in favour of the wife and passed a decree dissolving the marriage between the parties.

3. The respondent herein i.e. the wife feeling dissatisfied challenged the judgment and decree passed by the Division Bench of this Court by filing a Special Leave Petition No.13420 of 2010 in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court after hearing the parties was of the opinion that the view taken by the High Court might appear to be quite reasonable but, unfortunately irretrievable breakdown of marriage was not a ground for dissolution of marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act. According to the Supreme Court, the finding recorded by the High Court that, the marriage between the parties had broken down beyond repairs could not have been made a ground for the decree of dissolution of marriage. Accordingly, the Supreme Court set aside the judgment and decree passed by this Court. The Supreme Court also held that since the High Court had proceeded to give direction for the dissolution of marriage on the ground of irretrievable break down of marriage alone, had thereby failed to examine the findings recorded by the Trial Court on the pleas of cruelty and desertion taken by the husband as grounds for dissolution of marriage. In such circumstances, the Supreme Court thought fit to remit the matter to this High Court to consider the husband's appeal on merits. The Supreme Court accordingly restored the present appeal preferred by the husband to its original file and directed the High Court to hear and dispose off the appeal in accordance with law after hearing the parties.

4. It is in the aforesaid background that the appeal has been placed once again before us for hearing and the same is being disposed of by this judgment.

5. The case made out by the husband (herein after referred to as the "appellant") in the petition for divorce may be enumerated, rather in detail in order to appreciate the allegations of cruelty in proper perspective.

5.1 The parties were married according to the Hindu rites and rituals on 15.02.1982 at Anand (Dist:Kheda) and during the said wedlock, two sons were born.

5.2 According to the appellant, he lived with the respondent as husband and wife till 13.05.1991. During this period, the appellant purchased a Flat No. 40 in Mayuri Flats situated near Novelty Cinema, Ahmedabad for the respondent in her name out of love and affection towards her. The appellant also bought furniture and other items like T.V., V.C.R., Refrigerator and few household articles.

5.3 During this period, on the request of the respondent, the appellant permitted the mother of the respondent to stay along with them in the said flat. According to the appellant, his wife the respondent was completely under the influence of her mother and her mother interfered in all matters as a result of which, the respondent started quarreling with the appellant on one pre






































































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