Dev Darshan Sud, J.—This is the wife’s appeal against the judgment and decree of the learned Additional District Judge (Fast Track Court), Solan, passed in a petition under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) filed by the respondent-husband praying for a decree of dissolution of marriage on the grounds of cruelty and desertion.

2. The parties were married according to the Hindu rites on 14.10.1994. From this wedlock, one female child was born on 28.7.1995 who is now admittedly in the custody of the appellant-mother. The respondent-petitioner alleged that the appellant had deserted the respondent’s company and left the matrimonial home for a continuous period of more than two years as on the date when the petition was filed that is 19.4.2001. Despite best efforts made by him, his parents and well wishers the appellant did not care to rejoin his company. He pleaded that he was working as a teacher in the Government Middle School in Tehsil Pachhad, District Sirmaur. His father is a Government contractor and his mother is a retired teacher. He is the only son of his parents and looking after them in their old age. He pleads that the