The time limitation for filing a petition for annulment under the Hindu Marriage Act and the requirement of living together after the alleged fraud as specified in Section 12 (2) were central to the court's decision.

P. Kalaiyarasan, J.

1. This Civil Miscellaneous Appeal has been directed against the dismissal order passed by the II Additional Family Court, Chennai on 09.06.2017 in O.P.No.4037 of 2015 at the instance of the wife.

2. The appellant/petitioner filed petition before the Family Court under Section 12 (1) (c) of the Hindu Marriage Act, seeking to annul the marriage that was registered on 09.04.2014 between the appellant and the respondent. It is averred in the petition that the respondent expressed his liking over the petitioner at the time when the appellant/petitioner was about to complete her Plus Two. Both the appellant/petitioner and the respondent are athletes. Even after perusing her degree course, the respondent compelled the petitioner to talk to him and many times he would threaten that if the petitioner does not talk to him he would commit suicide. On 08.04.2014, the respondent requested the petitioner to wear saree and come along with him on 09.04.2014 to visit a temple. But on 09.04.2014, the respondent took the appellant/petitioner straight away to the office of the Registrar, Guduvancherry and compelled the petitioner to agree for registration of marriage under the threat that he would commit suicide, if she does not agree for registration. The respondent manipulated the record as if the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent took place at Pudhupalayathamman Alayam, Nandivaram, Guduvancherry on 12.03.2014. But on 12.03.2014, the petitioner was attending her work and the same is entered by the Register maintained by her employer. There was no solemnization of marriage and there was no cohabitation between the petitioner and the respondent. The appellant/petitioner was just interacting with the respondent out of the sheer infatuation. Therefore the registration of the marriage between the appellant/petitioner and the respondent on 09.04.2014 is sheer nullity in the eye of law.

3. The respondent in his counter denied the averments made by the appellant/petitioner as to the alleged fraud. The marriage was well planned by the appellant/petitioner as well as the respondent and the appellant on 03.02.2014 sent her ration card and Voter ID scan copies to the respondent's email address. After the register marriage on 09.04.2014, the appellant/petitioner and respondent celebrated the wedding at their friends house. The appellant/petitioner during her training period with her employer went out with the respondent after punching her finger print in the biometric device. Tying of Thaali or exchange of garlands are not at all necessary for registered marriage as per law. After the marriage, the appellant and respondent lived as husband and wife and due to the matrimonial life, the appellant got pregnant. Therefore the petition is liable to be dismissed.

4. On the side of the appellant/petitioner, the petitioner was examined as P.W.1 and 2 Exhibits were marked. The respondent examined himself as R.W.1 and on his side, 9 Exhibits were marked. The learned trial Judge after analysing both the oral and documentary evidence, dismissed the petition. Aggrieved by the order, the petitioner preferred this Civil Miscellaneous Appeal.

5. The learned counsel appearing for the appellant mainly argued that there is no evidence for solemnization of marriage and the respondent played fraud upon the appellant/petitioner and got it registered before the Marriage Officer.

6. The learned counsel appearing for the respondent argued that the petition under Section 12 (1) (c) is not maintainable and it is time barred. Further it is argued that as per Section 7 (a) of the Act, marriage registered before the Marriage Officer in the presence of the friends is valid in law.

7. The foremost point is whether the petition filed under Section 12 (1) (c) of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 has been filed within time.

8. Admittedly the marriage was registered between the appellant and the respondent on 09.04.2014 before the Marriage Officer, Guduvancherry