BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
R. THARANI, J.
M. Subramaniyan - Appellant
Versus
S. Latha - Respondent
C.M.S.A.(MD) No. 11 of 2022
Decided On : 25-08-2022
Hindu Marriage Act - Section 29 - Code of Civil Procedure,1908 - Section 100 - matrimonial obligations - Converse in Hindi language - Voluntary Retirement - Military service - Harassment - Illegal intimacy - Whether appellant/petitioner is not entitled for divorce on ground of cruelty - Held, It is true that an adverse inference can be taken against respondent who failed to enter box - On side of respondent it is pointed out that in evidence of appellant he has admitted that except suspecting appellant respondent was a good wife - A perusal of deposition of appellant reveals that except suspecting fidelity of appellant respondent was a good wife to him - From it is clear that contention of appellant that property was sold without his knowledge is wrong reveals that contention of appellant that they were living separately from is also wrong - Appeal is dismissed
JUDGMENT :
Prayer: This Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is filed under Section 29 of the Hindu Marriage Act r/w. Section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure, against the judgment and decree, dated 15.03.2021, made in H.M.C.M.A. No.20 of 2020, on the file of the Principal District Judge, Theni, by confirming the judgment and decree, dated 29.07.2020, made in H.M.O.P.No.5 of 2018, on the file of the Sub Court, Theni.
This Civil Miscellaneous Second Appeal has been filed against the judgment and decree, dated 15.03.2021, made in H.M.C.M.A. No.20 of 2020, on the file of the Principal District Judge, Theni by confirming the judgment and decree, dated 29.07.2020, made in H.M.O.P.No.5 of 2018, on the file of the Sub Court, Theni. The appellant herein is the petitioner - husband and the respondent herein is the respondent-wife.
2. Brief substance of the petition in H.M.O.P.No.5 of 2018, is as follows :
2.1. The petitioner is an Ex-service man. The marriage between the petitioner and the respondent was solemnized on 11.06.1993 at Sethumaravar marriage hall at Bodinaykanur, Theni District. The respondent was not gifted with any jewels, at the time of marriage. After five years of marriage, the parents of the respondent gave 6 1/2 sovereigns to the respondent and they gifted Sridhana articles worth about Rs.25,000/-. The jewels and the articles are in the custody of the respondent. They lived in Gwalior, Mathyapradesh. When ever the petitioner used to converse in Hindi language, the respondent used to suspect him and used to quarrel with him. She failed to do her matrimonial obligations. They were blessed with one son on 15.06.1994, viz., Muneeswaran. The petitioner was then transferred to Mumbai and they lived there from the year 1996. The respondent suspect every word and deed of the petitioner. They were blessed with the second son viz., Ramkumar, on 25.05.1999. Then the petitioner was transferred to Gahauti, Assam and they lived there from the year 2001 till 2003.
2.2. The respondent suspect the petitioner and obstructed him from doing his duty and because of the attitude of the respondent, the petitioner was not able to concentrate on his work and he got Voluntary Retirement from the military service. Due to the harassment of the respondent, the petitioner was made to work as a watchman instead of serving in the military. After retirement, they lived in a rental premises in Bodinaykanur. Due to the nature of the respondent, the landlord asked them to vacate the premises. Later in the year 2006, the petitioner purchased a plot with the help of Bank loan and constructed a housed in the year 2013. When the petitioner was struggling with the repayment of loan, the respondent continued to fight with him for one reason or the other.
2.3. She demanded to transfer the ownership of the house to her name. Considering the welfare of the children, the petitioner transferred the house property in her name. In order to repay the bank loan, the respondent disposed of the house property without the knowledge of the petitioner and she closed the Bank loan. Once again, they were made to reside in a rental premises. The respondent used to remove and throw away the sacred Thali and she used to go out of the matrimonial home. The petitioner had to trace out and bring her back to the matrimonial home. The respondent used to threaten the petitioner that she would consume poison. On 11.05.2014, she consumed poison and she was admitted in Ragavan Hospital for treatment. The brothers of the respondent threatened the petitioner that they will burn him, if something happened to their sister. The elder son got married in the year 2013 and due to the attitude of the respondent, the daughter-in-law left the house. From December – 2016 onwards, the respondent is living separately, there is no possibility of the petitioner to live jointly with the respondent.
3. Brief substance of the counter filed by the respondent, in H.M.O.P.No.5 of 2018, is as follows:
3.1. The marriage betw
The main legal point established in the judgment is the requirement to prove allegations of cruelty and desertion in divorce cases, and the consideration of the parties' willingness to reconcile as a....
The main legal point established in the judgment is the court's interpretation of the grounds for divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act, particularly regarding cruelty and irretrievable breakdown of m....
The court established that mental cruelty can justify divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act, and the Family Court erred in granting judicial separation when not sought.
The court established that mental cruelty, evidenced by the respondent's behavior, justified the dissolution of marriage under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act.
The central legal point established in the judgment is the requirement for evidence to support claims of desertion and demand for dowry under the Hindu Marriage Act, and the impact of personal choice....
(1) Divorce – Temperamental differences between spouses could be resolved over time and should not be used as grounds for divorce.(2) Initiation of D.V. case and M.C case should not be held as cruelt....
Persistent, unproven, defamatory accusations against a spouse to professional superiors causing reputational damage constitutes mental cruelty. When combined with long-term separation and the symboli....
Point of law: Decree of Divorce – Ground of desertion- for the offence of desertion, so far as the deserting spouse is concerned, two essential conditions must be there, namely, (1) the factum of sep....
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