P.Krishna Kumar, J.

The appellant is the petitioner in O.P. No.395/2012 on the file of the Family Court, Thiruvananthapuram. She filed the petition claiming that she is the wife of the respondent herein. The reliefs sought in the petition were for recovery of gold ornaments and household articles, and for arrears of maintenance. By the impugned judgment, the Family Court dismissed her petition mainly on a finding that there was no legal marriage between the appellant and the respondent.

2. According to the appellant, she became the wife of the respondent through a “registered marriage” that took place on 23.10.2008 at the Perumkadavila Sub Registrar’s Office. She further claims that the marriage was solemnized as per Hindu rites and ceremonies at her residence in the presence of the parents of both parties. It is further alleged that, at the time of marriage, her parents gave her 75 sovereigns of gold ornaments and household articles worth ₹1,00,000/-. The respondent allegedly obtained 70 sovereigns out of those gold ornaments and misappropriated them for his personal purposes. The household articles were also entrusted to the respondent. Therefore, the appellant claims that she is