1. The challenge here is by the wife Neelam Midha to the decree for divorce granted to her husband Vinod Midha on the ground of desertion and cruelty.

2. It is apparent that there has been a complete break down of this marriage and it was only for a short period that husband and wife lived together. No child was born to them.

3. The marriage between the parties was solemnized at Ferozepore on April, 18, 1980. According to the husband, his wife stayed with him only till the third week of May, 1980, that is, for about a month while the wife s case is that they lived together till Oct., 1981. Be that as it may, it is common case of the parties that they have been living apart ever since.

4. The plea of desertion, as put forth by the husband is founded upon the allegation that in May, 1980, Neelam Midha s father came and took her away on the pretext that there was a wedding in the family. All her clothes and ornaments were taken away by her on that occasion. She never returned thereafter.

Further, it was stated that in Oct. 1981, the husband went to his father-in-law s house to persuade his wife to resume cohabitation, but she refused saying that she had to look after her ailin