2000 Supreme(P&H) 1216
PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT
R.L.Anand, J.
Roshan Lal
Versus
Kamlesh
First Appeal Order No. 76 of 1999,
Decided On : OCTOBER 6, 2000
The main legal point established in the judgment is the requirement to prove the extent of mental disorder and its impact on the petitioner's ability to live with the respondent, as well as the need for corroborative evidence and assessment of the degree of mental disorder.
Headnote:
Mental Disorder - Hindu Marriage Act - Section 13(1)(iii) - Summary of Acts and Sections: The court discussed Section 13(1)(iii) of the Hindu Marriage Act, which allows divorce on the ground of a spouse being incurably of unsound mind or suffering continuously or intermittently from mental disorder. The court emphasized the need to prove the extent of mental disorder and its impact on the petitioner's ability to live with the respondent. The court referred to legal provisions and interpretations from previous cases, highlighting the requirement to assess the degree of mental disorder and its impact on the petitioner's ability to live with the respondent.
Fact of the Case:
The appellant sought divorce from his wife on the grounds of her alleged mental disorder and cruelty. The trial court dismissed the petition, and the appellant appealed the decision.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the appellant failed to prove that the respondent was suffering from mental disorder to such an extent that it would be difficult for the petitioner to live with her. The court also found that the appellant did not provide sufficient evidence to establish the alleged cruelty by the respondent.
Issues: The main issue was whether the respondent was suffering from mental disorder to the extent that it would be difficult for the petitioner to live with her. Additionally, the court considered the issue of cruelty alleged by the appellant.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the need to prove the extent of mental disorder and its impact on the petitioner's ability to live with the respondent. It highlighted the lack of corroborative evidence and the importance of assessing the degree of mental disorder. The court also discussed the requirement to prove mental cruelty and its impact on the petitioner's health.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the appeal, finding that the appellant failed to prove the grounds for divorce based on mental disorder and cruelty.
R.L.Anand, J.
1. Roshan Lal son of Banarsi Das, husband, lias filed the present FAO and it has been directed against the judgment and decree dated 10.4.1999 passed by the District Judge, Jind, who dismissed the petition of the appellant under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act against his wife Kamlesh.
2. The brief facts of the case are that marriage between the parties was solemnised on 13.3.1985 at Tohana as per Hindu rites and ceremonies. After the marriage the parties resided together as husband and wife at Pilluk-hera Mandi, Tehsil Safidon, District Jind. The marriage was consummated but no child was born out of the wedlock. The case of the appellant-petitioner made out in the trial Court was that he came to know that respondent-Kamlesh was a lady of unsound mind and that she had been suffering from intermittently mental disorder, On being enquired in this regard he and his parents were told by the respondent and her parents that Kamlesh was treated for her mental disorder prior to her marriage and doctors had said that she will get cured after some time. The petitioner and his parents believed this fact and the respondent continued to take medicines which were given by her parents. The behaviour of the respondent was abnormal and sometimes she used to be aggressive and violent also. Her conduct was irresponsible towards the petitioner, his parents and other relatives. The petitioner continued to tolerate all this hoping that with the passage of time she will get cured. He got her checked up from various medical experts including Dr. R.C. Garg of Rohtak in the year 1993. Dr. G.B. Adwani, Professor and Head of the Department of S.M.S. Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur diagnosed that the respondent was suffering from "Schizophrenia" and she was of incurable mind and she might become of sound mind to some extent only during brief intervals after taking medicines. The petitioner continued to get her treated, but there was no improvement. She used to abuse the petitioner, his parents and other relatives. She would laugh, cry, sing and dance in the presenceof his relatives and friends without any occasion. Her such conduct/behaviour caused mental cruelty to the petitioner. Finding no other alternative he convened a Panchayat of respectables of Pillukhera, Tohana, Jind, Safidon and Panipat etc. on 2] .9.1985. Both the parties appointed Laxmi Chand of Safidon, Badlu of Jind, Prem of Tohana, Hukam Chand of Pillukhera and Phool Chand of Panipat as arbitrators, who, after making enquiries from both the parties, directed the petitioner to get the respondent medically examined from Maharaja Aggarsain Hospital, Punjabi Bagh, Delhi. Accordingly, he got her medico legally examined in the said hospital. The concerned psychiatrist of the hospital namely Dr. H.K. Matai diagnosed that she was suffering from "Schizophrenia". After keeping the respondent under observation as an indoor patient from 8.2.1995 to 23.2.1995, he prescribed certain medicines to her. She was given six doses of ECT. The said doctor was of the opinion that she was of incurable unsound mind. In view of this fact, the arbitrators directed that the petitioner should keep the respondent at Jind and the mother of the respondent would also stay with them for looking after her. Accordingly, the parties and mother of respondent started living at Jind. They lived at Jind from 10.6.1995 to 1.4.1996. The mental disorder of the respondent did not get cured and her behaviour remained the same. The mother of the respondent took her to Tohana after telling that she would return to Jind after a fortnight. Af- ter a fortnight the parents of the respondent told the petitioner in reply to a telephonic enquiry made by him that there was no improvement in her mental condition and she was still suffering from mental disorder. After verifying these facts from both the parties, the arbitrators held ameeting at Tohana on 4.8.1996 for deciding the controversy. They heard both the pa