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1996 Supreme(MP) 95
N.P. Singh, J.
Smt. Chandan Agarwal
vs
Mukesh Kumar Agarwal
DECIDED ON : 18 January, 1996
Lodging a false criminal case against the husband and his family members, refusing to fulfill the sexual desire of the husband, and defaming the husband to be impotent amounts to cruelty towards the husband and can be a ground for dissolution of marriage.
Headnote:
HINDU MARRIAGE ACT - SECTION 13 - CRUELTY - LODGING FALSE CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST HUSBAND AND HIS FAMILY MEMBERS - REFUSAL TO FULFILL SEXUAL DESIRE OF HUSBAND - DEFAMING HUSBAND TO BE IMPOTENT - AMOUNTS TO CRUELTY TO HUSBAND - SECOND MARRIAGE DESERVES TO BE DISSOLVED.
Fact of the Case:
Husband filed a suit for dissolution of marriage on the ground of cruelty. Wife alleged that she was subjected to cruelty by the husband for not bringing a Maruti car in dowry and that the husband was impotent.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the wife had lodged a false criminal case against the husband and his family members, leading to the arrest of the husband and harassment to his family members. The court also found that the wife had refused to fulfill the sexual desire of her husband and had defamed him to be impotent.
Issues: Whether the wife's conduct amounted to cruelty towards the husband.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the wife's conduct amounted to cruelty towards the husband. The court relied on the fact that the wife had lodged a false criminal case against the husband and his family members, leading to the arrest of the husband and harassment to his family members. The court also relied on the fact that the wife had refused to fulfill the sexual desire of her husband and had defamed him to be impotent.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the wife's appeal and upheld the decree of divorce granted by the trial court.
N.P. Singh, J.
1. This appeal by the appellant/defendant under Section 28 of the Hindu Marriage act is directed against the judgment and decree dated 15.12.1994 passed by the District Judge, Satna in Civil Suit No. 3-A/94 dissolving the marriage between the parties.
2. The respondent/husband filed the instant civil suit against the appellant/ wife under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act for dissolution of marriage by a decree of divorce on the ground of cruelty.
3. The marriage between the parties was solemnised on 20.5.1989 according to the customary Hindu rites. After the marriage, the appellant was brought to her matrimonial home at Jabalpur, but she was reluctant to live in the joint family of the respondent which consisted of his brother and his wife and two children.
4. The respondent shifted to a rented house according to the wishes of the appellant, but there also the appellant could not create congenial atmosphere of a happy married life. Neither she cared to cater to the needs of the respondent/ husband no did she fulfill her matrimonial obligations. On this refusal, of the respondent to shift his business to Chhatarpur, behaviour of the appellant because hostile to the respondent.
5. On 6.6.1990, the appellant returned back to Jabalpur, from her parents home, accompanied by her father, brother and other relatives and she lodged a report against the respondent, for an offence under Section 498A I.P.C. implicating his elder brother, his wife and their children. The respondent was detained at Lordganj Police Station, before being releascal on bail and his brother and other family members had to obtain anticipatory bail. The respondent and his family members were, ultimately prosecuted in Criminal Case No. 170/91, on the charge under Section 498A I.P.C., in the Court of Judicial Magistrate, First Class Jabalpur, but they were discharged, for want of any material in the charge report.
6. Against the order of discharge the appellant preferred Criminal Revision No. 9/92 before the 2nd Addl. Sessions Judge, Jabalpur, who reversed the order of discharge of the respondent and his family members passed by the Judicial Magistrate. The respondent preferred Criminal Revision 11/93, before this Court. This Court allowed the revision of the respondent and affirmed the order of discharge passed by the Judicial Magistrate.
7. On 12.11.1990 appellant obtained an ex-parte order of maintenance allowanceofRs.500/-per month under Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. from the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Chhatarpur.
8. On 16.4.1990, the respondent filed Civil Suit No. 114-A/90 under Section 10 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 against the appellant, for judicial separation, in the Court of 4th Addl. District Judge, Jabalpur which was subsequently withdrawn by the respondent. Thereafter the respondent filed the instant civil suit, under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act for dissolution of marriage by decree of divorce.
9. The stand of the appellant/wife was that was not welcomed at her matrimonial home. She was tortured by the respondent/husband and his family members for not bringing Maruti car and a V.C.R. in dowry.
10. On 9.3.1990 the respondent took the appellant to the house of her maternal uncle on a false pretext where the respondent dropped her and thereafter respondent never cared to take her back to his home.
11. The learned District Judge, on consideration of the evidence, decreed the suit.
12. Shri N.P. Dubey, Counsel for the appellant has contended that the appellant was subjected to cruelty by the respondent/husband for not bringing the Maruti car in dowry. The respondent has ruined the life of the appellant who holds a master decree in science.
13. On perusal of the evidence, it is evident that there is clear admission of the appellant that the marriage between the parties was never consumated because the respondent was not able to perform his matrimonial obligations on account of his physical incapacity. He was an impotent and h
