K. RAMAKRISHNAN, J.

1. The plaintiff in OS. No. 106/2005 on the file of the Family Court, Kottarakara is the appellant herein. The suit was filed by the appellant for a declaration that there is no legal and customary marriage between the plaintiff and the defendant and the defendant is not his wife. It is alleged in the plaint that the plaintiff and the defendant were neighbours and they fell in love and gradually developed carnal relationship. At the time when the love between them started, the plaintiff was employed in Navy and he got employment at the age of 19. On 4.4.1968, the relationship between the plaintiff and the defendant came to the knowledge of the defendant's father and relatives and while they were in such relationship, the plaintiff was caught and manhandled by the defendant's father and her relatives. On account of the compulsion of the defendant's father and relatives, he agreed to marry the defendant. On the same day itself, he had taken the defendant to his house though his parents protested the same. When the plaintiff assured that he would marry