VINEY MITTAL, J.

1. The husband is the appellant before this Court. He has challenged the judgement dated July 23, 2001, passed by the learned single Judge whereby on an appeal filed by the respondent-wife, the decree of divorce granted by the learned trial Judge has been set aside.

2. The marriage between the parties was solemnised on September 20, 1977. A divorce petition was filed by the husband in May, 1989 on the allegations that the wife had left the matrimonial home on December 12, 1984 and had started living separately without any justifiable cause. It was also claimed by the husband that during her stay also, she used to quarrel with the parents of the husband and used to threaten the husband with dire consequences. Consequently, divorce was sought by the husband on account of cruelty and desertion.

3. The wife contested the divorce petition. She denied all the allegations levelled against her. It was pleaded by her that the husband and wife had lived in village Randhawa, home village of the husband, upto 1985. In those days, the atmosphere in the State of Punjab was not good and she had to travel to Sirhind every day where she was posted as a Teacher. There was a