A. Hariprasad, J.

1. Feeling aggrieved by the order passed in O.P.No.426 of 2000 by the learned Judge, Family Court, Kottayam at Ettumanoor the respondents in the original petition have preferred this appeal. Parties are hereinafter referred to as the petitioner and the respondents as in the original proceedings for the sake of convenience.

2. The 1st respondent married the petitioner on 30.04.1995 according to Christian religious rites and customs. A girl child was born to them on 07.11.1996. Petitioner is a qualified teacher and the 1st respondent is an employee in a service co-operative bank. Petitioner contended that on 22.04.1996, a couple of days before marriage, petitioner's father along with a few of his relatives and well wishers went to the respondents' house at Payyappadi and handed over Rs.75,000/- to the respondents in lieu of the petitioner's share in the ancestral property. The 2nd respondent received the amount. Another sum of Rs.5,000/- was also given before marriage to the respondents by the petitioner's father for buying dress as per custom. At the time of marriage, the petitioner was having gold ornaments weighting 22 sovereigns, which she wore during