IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
SUJIT NARAYAN PRASAD, ARUN KUMAR RAI, JJ.
Nutan Kumari, W/o Pankaj Kumar, D/o Dhananjay Kumar – Appellant
Versus
Pankaj Kumar Son of Jawahar Lal Singh – Respondent
F.A. No. 179 of 2023
Decided on : 01-12-2025
JUDGMENT :
Sujit Narayan Prasad, J.
Prayer:
1. The instant appeal has been filed under Section 19(1) of the Family Courts Act, 1984 is directed against the order/judgment dated 28.04.2023 and decree dated 10.05.2023 passed by the learned Principal Judge, Family Court, Bokaro in connection with Original Suit No. 572 of 2021, whereby and whereunder, the petition filed by the respondent-husband, under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 against the appellant-wife for restitution of conjugal rights, has been allowed.
Factual Matrix:
2. The brief facts of the case, as per the impugned judgment and memo of appeal are referred herein which reads as under:
The marriage between appellant-wife and respondent-husband was solemnized on 02.12.2016 at Budh Vihar, Bokaro according to Hindu rites and customs.
The husband is a government employee and the appellant is a housewife. On 10.03.2019 both were blessed with a female child while both were residing at Delhi.
On account of both mental and physical torture at the hands of her husband and in-laws, refusal by the husband to cohabit, repeated pressure and regular assault by the respondent for non-fulfilment of unlawful demand of Rs. 15 Lakhs by the family members of the wife, the appellant wife visualizing threat to her life and left the matrimonial home on 14.10.2021 and reached her parents place at Nalanda, Bihar.
The wife thereafter got a case registered on 01.12.2021 at Harnaut vide Harnaut P.S. Case No. 571/2021 under Section 498(A)/34 IPC and 3/4 of Dowry Prohibition Act against her husband and in-laws.
Further, on 17.10.2021, the appellant has also approached before the concerned Mahila P.S., Biharsharif and subsequently being summoned by Mahila P.S., Naland, the respondent and in-laws appeared there on 01.11.2021, 05.11.2021 and 25.11.2021 and tried to justify their conduct by submitting that they want to restitute the conjugal life and shall keep the appellant with dignity.
The appellant after being compelled to leave the matrimonial home, the respondent through his mother, filed an informatory petition vide Misc. Criminal Application No. 2446 of 2021 before C.J.M., Bokaro and further, after gaining information about the criminal case against them, instituted a suit on 27.11.2021 before Principal Judge, Family Court, Bokaro vide Original Suit No. 572 of 2021 under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 for restitution of conjugal rights.
3. The learned Family Judge has called upon the appellant-wife. The wife has filed written statement wherein it has been stated that save and except what are expressly admitted in the written statement all the allegations levelled against her are vehemently denied.
4. The Learned Family Court based upon the pleading made by the parties had framed altogether five issues for its determination/adjudication which are as follows:
(i) Is this suit maintainable in its present form?
(ii)Whether the petitioner has valid cause of action for the suit?
(iii) Whether the petitioner has been able to prove that the respondent has withdrawn herself from the society of the petitioner without any reasonable cause?
(iv) Whether the Petitioner is entitled for Decree of restitution of conjugal rights against respondent?
(v) Whether the petitioner is entitled to get the relief as prayed for?
5. The evidences have been laid on behalf of both the parties.Thereafter, the judgment has been passed allowing the suit in favour of petitioner husband and the respondent was directed to join company of her husband/petitioner and lead conjugal life to perform her marital duties/obligations, within one month from the date of the order. The petitioner husband was also directed to keep the respondent/wife and their daughter with him with full honour and dignity.
6. Being aggrieved and dissatisfied with the aforesaid order, the present appeal has been filed by the appellant-wife.
Submissions of the learned counsel for the appellant-wife:
7. It has been contended on behalf of the appellant that the j
Restitution decree under Section 9 HMA denied as wife failed to prove husband's withdrawal without reasonable excuse; acquittal in cruelty case and unreliable evidence establish justification.
The burden of proof in restitution of conjugal rights lies with the withdrawing spouse to show reasonable cause for separation; the court affirms joint responsibility in marriage.
The right to restitution of conjugal rights under the Special Marriage Act is contingent upon proving a spouse's withdrawal from marital society without reasonable cause, weighing the evidence of ill....
In Muslim law restitution suits, courts refuse decree if husband's proven cruelty or conduct creates life apprehension, making cohabitation inequitable; family court reversal warranted for perverse e....
Restitution of conjugal rights can be granted if one spouse withdraws from the other's society without reasonable excuse; allegations of desertion must be substantiated with evidence.
Restitution of conjugal rights – Remedy of restitution of conjugal rights is a positive remedy that requires both parties to live together and cohabit – Rights and duties arising out of marriage are ....
In a suit for restitution of conjugal rights, the burden of proof is on the petitioner to establish that the other spouse has withdrawn from the conjugal society without any reasonable cause. The res....
Trivial disputes between spouses do not constitute cruelty under the Hindu Marriage Act, and the burden of proof lies on the party alleging such cruelty.
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