The court clarified that secular law governs divorce relating to cruelty allegations, irrespective of religious doctrines regarding marriage.

ORDER

[RP Nos.464/2022, 535/2022, 536/2022, 534/2022]

A.Muhamed Mustaque, J .

We refer to the parties by name for clarity in these review petitions. Dr.Thomas who was the appellant in Mat.Appeal No.36/2017 has come up with these review petitions, mainly aggrieved by the divorce granted to Nadine. According to him, no cruelty has been established. He particularly points out to the domestic violence case and the withdrawal of the same by Nadine. According to him, the domestic violence case has been withdrawn as Nadine had no cause of action or materials to prove the allegations of domestic violence against him. It is submitted that withdrawal of domestic violence case as against him would itself establish that there was no cruelty. According to Dr.Thomas, in Christian faith, souls united by God cannot be separated by the court and therefore, the court could not have granted relief to Nadine by granting divorce.

2. Mere withdrawal of the domestic violence case itself will not prevent the wife from establishing the grounds of divorce in an appropriate forum in accordance with law. The Domestic Violence Act contains the provisions to take measures in certain situations where the intervention of the Magistrate is required to protect a woman. It is intended to protect a woman, rather than to adjudicate upon the acts complained of. The Magistrate is called upon to take appropriate measures to protect the women who suffers domestic violence. In no way the Magistrate is called upon to adjudicate or decide finally on the allegations and objections raised before him. In such circumstances, we are of the view that merely because the domestic violence case was not prosecuted, it will not absolve him of the allegations of cruelty, alleged against him before the Family Court. Therefore, we overrule this objection. We are not persuaded in his argument to review the judgment rendered on fact-finding. In regard to the subsequent objection, that being a Christian, the marriage cannot be separated, we remind the review petitioner that it is a secular law that governs the parties and the grounds of divorce urged and the relief granted are in accordance with the secular law. In secular law where a Christian follower is allowed to seek divorce, then such follower cannot be heard to say that, the court cannot separate the souls united by God. We find there is no error apparent in the judgment warranting invocation of the review power. Hence, these review petitions are dismissed. No order as to costs.

Sd/- A.MUHAMED MUSTAQUE JUDGE Sd/- SOPHY THOMAS JUDGE ln APPENDIX OF RP 464/2022 PETITIONER'S ANNEXURES:

ANNEXURE B9 A TRUE COPY OF THE DEPOSITION PW1 (REVIEW RESPONDENT) BEFORE CJM COURT, ERNAKULAM IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE MC

1/2012 DATED 27.02.2016.

ANNEXURE B10 A TRUE COPY OF DEPOSITION OF PW2(MOTHER IN LAW) IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE MC1/2012 DATED 17.06.2016.

ANNEXURE B11 A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER OF CC CASE NO.

17/2016 IN MC 1/2012 WITHDRAWN FROM CJM COURT ERNAKULAM DATED 27.12.2016.

ANNEXURE B12 A TRUE COPY OF ORDER OF HON'BLE HIGH COURT IN CONNECTION WITH CUSTODY OF CHILDREN IN OP(FC) NO. 373/2014 DATED

30.07.2014.

ANNEXURE B13 A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER OF MAT APPEAL

1052/2016 DATED 31.05.2017 IN CONNECTION WITH CUSTODY OF CHILDREN.

APPENDIX OF RP 534/2022 PETITIONER'S ANNEXURES:

ANNEXURE B9 A TRUE COPY OF THE DEPOSITION PW1 (REVIEW RESPONDENT) BEFORE CJM COURT, ERNAKULAM IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE MC

1/2012 DATED 27.02.2016.

ANNEXURE B10 A TRUE COPY OF DEPOSITION OF PW2(MOTHER IN LAW) IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE MC1/2012 DATED 17.06.2016.

ANNEXURE B11 A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER OF CC CASE NO.

17/2016 IN MC 1/2012 WITHDRAWN FROM CJM COURT, ERNAKULAM DATED 27.12.2016.

ANNEXURE B12 A TRUE COPY OF ORDER OF HON'BLE HIGH COURT IN CONNECTION WITH CUSTODY OF CHILDREN IN OP(FC) NO. 373/2014 DATED

30.07.2014.

ANNEXURE B13 A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER OF MAT APPEAL

1052/2016 DATED 31.05.2017 IN CONNECTION WITH CUSTODY OF CHILDREN.

APPENDIX OF RP 535/2022 PETITIONER'S ANNEXURES:

ANNEXURE B9 C