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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI F.A. No. 246 of 2019 Renuka, aged about 43 years, wife of Dilip Kumar and daughter of Alakh Ram, present and permanent resident of K.N. 36, Kailash Nagar, Chhota Govindpur, P.O. Chhota Govindpur, P.S. Govindpur, Jamshedpur, District- East Singhbhum ... Petitioner/Appellant Versus Dileep Kumar, son of Late Banaras Pandit, present and permanent resident of 62, P/5, Sainik Colony, Nehru Park, Bhola Ka Pur, P.O.

& P.S.- Dhumanganj, District Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh … Respondent/Respondent ---------

CORAM: HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ PRASAD ---------

For the Appellant: Mr Anurag Kashyap, Advocate For the Respondent: Mr Birendra Kumar, Advocate ---------

Reserved on 13.10.2026 Pronounced on 05 /11/2026 Per: Manoj Prasad, J.

1. Heard Mr Anurag Kashyap, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr Birendra Kumar, learned counsel for the respondent.

2. The present First Appeal challenges the judgment and decree dated

16.03.2019 and 02.04.2019, passed by the learned Principal Judge, Family Court, Jamshedpur, East Singhbhum, in Original Suit No. 322 of 2015, whereby the suit instituted by the present appellant, Renuka Devi, for dissolution of marriage on the ground of cruelty as contemplated under Section 13(1)(i-a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, by decree of divorce, was dismissed.

3. The present appellant, Renuka, was the petitioner before the Family Court, Jamshedpur, while the present respondent, Dileep Kumar, was the opposite party and is the husband of the present appellant.

4. Briefly stated, the facts of the case are that the appellant wife filed an application for dissolution of marriage under Section 13(1)(i-a) of the Hindu Marriage Act on the ground of cruelty and prayed for a decree of divorce on that ground. It is admitted that the parties are legally wedded husband and wife, their marriage was solemnised in 2004 at Jamshedpur as per Hindu customs and rituals, and that a daughter was born out of wedlock on

25.09.2007.

5. Thereafter, there are allegations that at the time of marriage, as per the demand made by the family members of the present respondent, Rs. 1,00,000/- and Rs. 75,000/- in cash were given to the respondent for the purchase of a two-wheeler. Further, Rs. 1,50,000/- for the purchase of furniture, utensils, and gold jewellery was given. However, after marriage, when the appellant came to her matrimonial home, in good faith she handed over the entire streedhan to her husband and her mother-in-law. The appellant found that one of her sisters-in-law was suffering from mental ailments and used to create disturbances in the matrimonial life and in the house. Subsequently, both the husband and wife decided to live separately, and the petitioner was allowed to pursue her studies by staying in a hostel, and thereafter the petitioner was shifted to a private house. Subsequently, the petitioner was forced to come down to Ranchi along with her parents, as the respondent stated that he was unemployed and unable to look after the appellant as well as the minor child born out of their wedlock. Resultantly, the appellant was compelled to stay back with her parents at Ranchi, and from there the petitioner-appellant pursued her MBA and occasionally visited her matrimonial home at Allahabad. In course of time, the appellant was ill-treated by her husband as well as her in-laws and found it difficult to continue her matrimonial life, as the present respondent kept on persuading the appellant to fulfil his illegal demands. The respondent, who was unemployed, had become lazy and dependent on the present appellant, who, out of her own efforts, was pursuing her career as a teacher.

6. Subsequently, the appellant, under the instructions and assurances of the respondent, left her job and accompanied the respondent to Delhi, as the respondent stated he had opted for a job in Delhi. But within a couple of days, the respondent resigned from his job, left Delhi,