JUDGMENT :

R. Subramanian, J.

1. This Civil Miscellaneous Second Appeal arises out of the proceedings under Section 12 of the Hindu Marriage Act launched by the husband seeking a declaration that the marriage between him and the respondent held on 04.12.2003 is null and void and for costs.

2. According to the appellant, the father of the respondent had approached the father of the appellant in July 2003 and had negotiated for marriage between the appellant and the respondent. During the entire negotiation, the father of the respondent had represented that he is a Hindu and the respondent is also a Hindu. Betrothal ceremony was conducted on 31.08.2003 and the marriage also took place on 04.12.2003. After marriage, spouses lived together at Velayanvilai till 11.12.2003. Since the appellant was working at Chennai the spouses settled down permanently at No. 15, Venkateswara Street, Thambaram West, from 12.12.2003. In the course of the said living at Chennai, to his surprise, the appellant found that the respondent was not living as a Hindu and she was adopting Christian faith. On suspicion, the appellant made enquiries and discovered that the respondent and her family were Christians and