SC and HC Judgments Online at MyNation

Judgments of Supreme Court of India and High Courts

Ashok S/O Ningareddi Kenchareddi vs Shamala W/O Ashok Kenchareddi on 14 June, 2017

Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

1

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
DHARWAD BENCH

DATED THIS THE 14th DAY OF JUNE, 2017

PRESENT

THE HON’BLE DR. JUSTICE VINEET KOTHARI
AND
THE HON’BLE DR. JUSTICE H. B. PRABHAKARA SASTRY

M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
BETWEEN:

ASHOK S/O NINGAREDDI KENCHAREDDI
AGE: 43 YEARS, OCC: PRIVATE EMPLOYEE,
R/O. MAGOD, TAL: RANEBENNUR,
AT PRESENT RESIDING AT APPAJIGOUDA BUILDING,
HANUMEGOUDA LAYOUT,
BEHIND VEERASHANDRESHWAR TEMPLE,
TINDLU VIDHYARANYAPURA,
BANGALORE-01.
… APPELLANT
(BY SRI.SACHIN S. MAGADUM, ADVOCATE)

AND:

SMT.SHAMALA, W/O ASHOK KENCHAREDDI
AGE: 34 YEARS, OCC: H/W,
R/O. LAXMESHWARA, C/O. SMT.SHAMALA
D/O. LATE GOVINDAREDDI
H. ALAVANDI HIREBANA ONI,
LAXMESHWAR NEAR COURT,
TAL: SHIRAHATTI, DIST: GADAG-582101
… RESPONDENT
(BY SRI.T. HANUMAREDDY, ADVOCATE)
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

2

THIS MFA IS FILED UNDER SECTION 28 OF HINDU
MARRIAGE ACT 1955, PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER
AND DECREE DATED 26.09.2014 PASSED IN
M.C.NO.26/2011 ON THE FILE OF THE ADDITIONAL SENIOR
CIVIL JUDGE, GADAG SITTING AT LAXMESHWAR,
DISMISSING THE PETITION FILED U/S.13(1) OF HINDU
MARRIAGE ACT 1955.

THIS APPEAL HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED
FOR JUDGMENT, COMING ON FOR PRONOUNCEMENT OF THE
JUDGMENT THIS DAY, DR. H. B. PRABHAKARA SASTRY,
J., DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

JUDGMENT

Mr. Shivaraj S. Balloli, Adv. for appellant.
Mr. Sachin S. Magadum, Adv. for respondent.

1. The appellant-husband has filed this appeal

under Section 28 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955,

challenging the order and decree dated 26.09.2014

passed by the Addl. Senior Civil Judge, Gadag, sitting at

Laxmeshwar (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Court

below’, for short), in M.C.No.26/2011, dismissing the

petition filed under Section 13(1) of the Hindu Marriage

Act, 1955 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’, for short),
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

3

seeking dissolution of marriage with the respondent –

wife.

2. The present appellant – husband was the

petitioner in the Court below, who had filed a petition

under Section 13(1) of the Act, seeking a decree of

divorce by dissolving his marriage said to have been

performed with the respondent on 02.07.1998. In his

memorandum of appeal, the appellant – husband has

taken a contention that the Court below erred in

disbelieving the evidence of PW1 to PW4, who had

supported the case of the petitioner. It also erred in

arriving at a conclusion that there was no sufficient

evidence on record to hold that the respondent had

deserted him. The appellant has further stated that the

finding of the Court below that the respondent had an

intention to lead marital life and it was the appellant

who had driven her out of her matrimonial home was
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

4

also unfounded one. With this, he has prayed for setting

aside the order and decree under appeal.

3. On notice being issued, respondent – wife has

appeared through her counsel Sri. Sachin S. Magadum.

The records of Court below were called for and the same

are placed before us.

4. Heard the arguments from both sides and

perused the memorandum of appeal, impugned

judgment and the entire materials placed before this

Court.

5. The point that arises for our consideration is:

“Whether the appellant – husband has
made out grounds for setting aside
the order and decree of the Court
below?

6. For the sake of convenience, the parties would

be referred to with the ranks they were holding
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

5

respectively in the Court below.

7. The summary of the case of the petitioner in the

Court below is that, he married the respondent on

02.07.1998 at Magod village as per the customs

prevailing in their community. After marriage, they led

marital life and begot a female child by name Apeksha.

Because of his avocation, the petitioner was living at

Bengaluru with the respondent. After the marriage, the

respondent started to harass the petitioner despite of

love and affection shown towards her by him. She was

considering that the petitioner was not a suitable match

for her and was exhibiting her superiority complex. The

respondent was tolerating all these acts and cruelty

meted out to him by the respondent. The act of the

respondent meeting cruelty was even extended to their

daughter, to whom she was beating quite often. The

respondent used to abuse the petitioner in front of the
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

6

neighbors. When mother of the respondent had visited

their house, the respondent joined her mother and

returned to her matrimonial home at Laxmeshwar,

without even informing to the petitioner. The request

of the petitioner calling her back to the marital home

went in vain. On the contrary, both the respondent and

her parental family members abused him in filthy

language. With this, on the ground of cruelty and

desertion, he has prayed for dissolution of marriage by a

decree of divorce.

The respondent appeared in the Court below and

has filed her statement of objection. In the said

statement of objection, though she admitted that her

marriage with the petitioner was solemnized on

02.07.1998, but denied all other allegations that she

was subjecting her husband to mental cruelty and her

child to physical cruelty and also the allegation that she
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

7

willfully deserted her husband. She further stated that,

out of their wedlock, she has given birth to two children,

incidentally both were daughters. It is her contention

that, since both the children were daughters, she was

subjected to cruelty by her husband. She went to the

extent of alleging that her husband drove her out from

his house and as such, she was compelled to file

maintenance case against him in Criminal

Misc.No.41/2005. She has further alleged that her

husband demanded her to bring `1,00,000/- and other

valuables from her parents’ house. She specifically

alleged that in February 2005, when she went to her

matrimonial home, her husband, stating that she should

enter his house with a cash of `1,00,000/- and other

valuables, refused to admit her to the house and sent

her back to Laxmeshwar. He did not accede to the

advice of elders. It is for this reason, she has filed the
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

8

maintenance petition against her husband. With this,

she prayed for dismissal of the petition.

Based on the pleadings of the parties, the Court

below framed the following issues:

i. Whether the petitioner proves that the
respondent has subjected him to cruelty
and withdrawn his society without
reasonable cause?

ii. What order?

In support of his case, the petitioner got examined

himself as PW1 and got examined 3 other witnesses as

PWs. 2, 3 and 4 respectively. He got produced a copy of

legal notice, postal receipt and reply notice, and marked

them as Exs.P1, P2 and P3 respectively. On behalf of

the respondent, the respondent got herself examined as

RW1 and examined one more witness from her side as

RW2 and got produced copy of the order sheet and

petition sheet in P.C.No.44/2009 as Exs.R1 and R2, a
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

9

copy of marriage invitation card as Ex.R3 and copies of

statements as Exs. R4 and R5.

After hearing both sides, the Court below by its

order and decree dated 26.09.2014, dismissed the

petition filed by the petitioner – husband. It is the said

order and decree, the petitioner – husband has

challenged in this appeal.

8. Even though the petition in the Court below has

been filed under Section 13(1) of the Act, but the main

grounds canvassed by the petitioner – husband in his

petition as the grounds for seeking divorce are that, the

respondent – wife has, after solemnization of marriage,

treated the petitioner with cruelty and that she deserted

him. The said two grounds were the grounds available

under Section 13(1)(i)(ia)(ib), which are reproduced

hereinbelow:

Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

10

13. Divorce-

(1) Any marriage solemnized, whether
before or after the commencement of
the Act, may, on a petition presented by
either the husband or the wife, be dissolved
by a decree of divorce on the ground that the
other party-

(i) xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(ia) has, after the solemnization of the
marriage, treated the petitioner with
cruelty; or
(ib) has deserted the petitioner for a
continuous period of not less than two years
immediately preceding the presentation of
the petition; or

ii)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Either the word ‘cruelty’ or the word ‘desertion’ has

not been defined in the said Act. However, their

meaning and parameters can be understood in the light

of judicial interpretation given in various judgments by
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

11

the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.

In Vinita Saxena Vs. Pankaj Pandit, reported in

(2006) 3 SCC 778, the Hon’ble Apex Court was

pleased to make the following observations in para 32 to

36 of its judgment:

“32. The word ‘cruelty’ has not been defined
and it has been used in relation to human
conduct or human behaviour. It is the
conduct in relation to or in respect of
matrimonial duties and obligations. It is a
course of conduct and one which is adversely
affecting the other. The cruelty may be
mental or physical, intentional or
unintentional. There may be cases where the
conduct complained of itself is bad enough
and per se unlawful or illegal. Then the
impact or the injurious effect on the other
spouse need not be enquired into or
considered. In such cases, the cruelty will be
established if the conduct itself is proved or
admitted.

Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

12

33. The cruelty alleged may largely depend
upon the type of life the parties are
accustomed to or their economic and social
conditions, their culture and human values to
which they attach importance. Judged by
standard of modern civilization in the
background of the cultural heritage and
traditions of our society, a young and well
educated woman like the appellant herein is
not expected to endure the harassment in
domestic life whether mental, physical,
intentional or unintentional. Her sentiments
have to be respected, her ambition and
aspiration taken into account in making
adjustment and her basic needs provided,
though grievances arising from
temperamental disharmony are irrelevant.
This view was taken by the Kerala High Court
in Rajani V. Subramonian, reported in AIR
1990 Ker 1.

Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

13

34. In 1993 (2) Hindu LR 637(sic), the Court
had gone to the further extent of observing
as follows:

“Sometime even a gesture, the angry
look, a sugar coated joke, an ironic overlook
may be more cruel than actual beating”

35. Each case depends on its own facts and
must be judged on these facts. The concept
of cruelty has varied from time to time, from
place to place and from individual to
individual in its application according to social
status of the persons involved and their
economic conditions and other matters. The
question whether the act complained of was a
cruel act is to be determined from the whole
facts and the matrimonial relations between
the parties. In this connection, the culture,
temperament and status in life and many
other things are the factors which have to be
considered.

36. The legal concept of cruelty which is not
defined by statute is generally described as
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

14

conduct of such character as to have caused
danger to life, limb or health (bodily and
mental) or to give rise to reasonable
apprehension of such danger. The general
rule in all questions of cruelty is that the
whole matrimonial relations must be
considered, that rule is of a special value
when the cruelty consists not of violent act
but of injurious reproaches, complains,
accusations or taunts. It may be mental such
as indifference and frigidity towards wife,
denial of a company to her, hatred and
abhorrence for wife or physical, like acts of
violence and abstinence from sexual
intercourse without reasonable cause. It must
be proved that one partner in the marriage
however mindless of the consequences has
behaved in a way which the other spouse
could not in the circumstances be called upon
to endure, and that misconduct has caused
injury to health or a reasonable apprehension
of such injury. There are two sides to be
considered in case of cruelty. From the
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

15

appellant’s side, ought this appellant to be
called on to endure the conduct? From the
respondent’s side, was this conduct
excusable? The court has then to decide
whether the sum total of the reprehensible
conduct was cruel. That depends on whether
the cumulative conduct was sufficiently
serious to say that from a reasonable
person’s point of view after a consideration of
any excuse which the respondent might have
in the circumstances, the conduct is such that
the petitioner ought not be called upon to
endure.”

In Vishwanath Agrawal Vs. Sarla Vishwanath
Agrawal, reported in (2012) 7 SCC 288, the Hon’ble
Apex Court after referring to some of its earlier
judgments was pleased to observe as;

“The expression ‘cruelty’ has an inseparable
nexus with human conduct or human
behaviour. It is always dependent upon the
social strata or the milieu to which the parties
belong, their ways of life, relationship,
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

16

temperaments and emotions that are
conditioned by their social status. The facts
and circumstances are to be assessed
emerging from the evidence on record and
thereafter, a fair inference has to be drawn
whether the petitioner in the divorce petition
has been subjected to mental cruelty due to
the conduct of the other.”

With respect to ‘desertion’, the Hon’ble Supreme

Court in Savitri Pandey Vs. Prem Chandra Pandey

reported in (2002) 2 SCC 73 at para 8 of its judgment

was pleased to observe as below:

“Desertion”, for the purpose of seeking
divorce under the Act, means the
intentional permanent forsaking and
abandonment of one spouse by the other
without that other’s consent and without
reasonable cause. In other words it is a
total repudiation of the obligations of
marriage. Desertion, is not the withdrawal
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

17

from a place but from a state of things.
Desertion, therefore, means withdrawing
from the matrimonial obligations i.e., not
permitting or allowing and facilitating
cohabitation between the parties. The proof
of desertion has to be considered by taking
into consideration the concept of marriage
which in law legalises the sexual
relationship between man and woman in the
society for the perpetuation of race,
permitting lawful indulgence in passion to
prevent licentiousness and for procreation
of children. Desertion is not a single act
complete in itself, it is a continuous course
of conduct to be determined under the facts
and circumstances of each case.”

It is in the light of the above decisions, the

evidence placed before the Court below is to be

analysed.

Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

18

9. The petitioner – husband as PW1, in his

examination-in-chief has reproduced the contents of his

petition in the Court below. He has stated that many

times the respondent was telling him that he was not a

suitable match for her and exhibited her superiority over

him by saying that she was the daughter of an

advocate. She was also not giving respect to the

brothers, sisters and relatives who were visiting their

house. He has further stated that, she used to squeeze

their daughter Apeksha, thereby used to beat the child.

She was also not preparing food for them. He has

further stated, after birth of Apeksha, the respondent

refused to return to her matrimonial home. His personal

request asking her to return also went in futile. It is his

further case that, neither the respondent nor her

parental family members informed him about the

delivery of second child by the respondent. He has
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

19

further stated that, he issued a legal notice on

06.06.2005 through his advocate calling upon the

respondent to join him. Instead of returning home, the

respondent replied to the notice making false

allegations.

Denial suggestions were made in the cross-

examination of PW1, which he did not admit as true.

Since categorical denial suggestions were made to PW1

in his cross-examination, the mere evidence of PW1 in

his examination-in-chief itself about the alleged

desertion and cruelty are not sufficient and those

statements require further corroboration. In this regard,

the petitioner examined PWs. 2 to 4 in his support.

PW2 to PW4 claimed themselves to be the persons

knowing the petitioner. PW2 – Sri. Basavaraj R. Beleri,

in his examination-in-chief has stated that the

respondent, whom also he knows, was mentally
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

20

harassing the petitioner since the date of their marriage.

Intentionally she has deserted her husband. However,

in his cross-examination, he has stated that it is only the

elder brother of the petitioner who is known to him since

his house and their house were adjoining houses in

Haliyal, Karwar in U.K. District. Interestingly, in his

cross-examination, this witness has stated that, from

the year 1994 to 2006, he was at Haliyal, but he has

further stated that the petitioner and respondent, after

their marriage were living at Bengaluru, it is only the

petitioner on his visit to Haliyal, when stated about the

alleged differences between himself and his wife, he

came to know about it. This witness has further stated

that he does not know at present where the petitioner

is.

In this way, the statement made by this witness in

his examination-in-chief was thoroughly shaken and
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

21

dismantled in his cross-examination by the respondent’s

side. It was brought in his cross-examination that PW2

had no personal knowledge or information about the

family and living of the parties to the petition. He was

only a hearsay witness with certain assumptions on his

part. As such, his evidence would in no way strengthen

the case of the petitioner.

10. PW3 – L. M. Koppad, whose examination-in-

chief in the form of affidavit evidence is nothing but a

copy of the affidavit evidence of PW2. In his cross-

examination, it was elicited that many of the details of

the family of the parties to the petition are not to the

knowledge of this witness. Neither he knows the

address of the residence of the parties nor the details of

their children, nor even the area of parental home of the

respondent. On the contrary, he claims that he had

visited the parental house of the respondent. Had it
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

22

really been true, he would have at least remembered

the name of the area in Laxmeshwar town, where the

parental house of the respondent – wife was said to be

situated. Therefore, even after claiming that he has

knowledge of the family of the parties to the petition,

when this witness was unable to answer many of the

basic and primary questions regarding the details of the

family of the parties to the petition, the evidence of this

witness does not inspire any confidence to believe.

The evidence of PW4 – Hanumantappa Bellahalli, is

also not an exception to the evidence of PWs. 2 and 3.

The examination-in-chief of this witness is also nothing

but one more copy of affidavit evidence of PWs. 2 and 3.

This witness in his cross-examination has clearly stated

that he does not know as to on what matter the dispute

arouse between the husband and wife. He has also

stated that he does not know what is written in his
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

23

affidavit evidence in the form of examination-in-chief.

In this way, the evidence of none of the witnesses from

PW2 to PW4 can be taken as a trustworthy and

corroborating evidence of PW1.

11. The respondent Smt.Shamala got herself

examined as RW1. In her examination-in-chief, she has

reiterated the contention taken up by her in her

statement of objection filed to the main petition. She

has reiterated that she has not deserted her husband,

but she was thrown out from the house from his

husband himself for the reason that she has given birth

to two female children and that she did not fulfill the

demand of her husband in getting `1,00,000/- cash and

other valuable articles from her father. She has also

stated about she filing a Criminal Misc.No.41/2005

against her husband claiming maintenance from him and

categorically stated that her husband had undergone
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

24

second marriage with one Ms. Shanta on 17.10.2009 at

Shri. Shiddeshwara Kalyan Mantap, Ranebennur.

Challenging this act of bigamy by her husband, she has

filed a criminal case in the Court of JMFC at Laxmeshwar

in C.C.No.249/2013, which is still pending.

In her cross-examination, the suggestions made to

her to the effect that it was she who practiced cruelty

against her husband has not been admitted as true by

her. Except making some denial suggestions, nothing

could be elicited in her cross-examination form the

petitioner side. On the other hand, she has given some

more details about the maintenance case and bigamy

case said to have been filed by her. She got produced

and marked as exhibits the certified copies of

P.C.No.44/2009 as Exs.R1 and R2.

The respondent-wife in support of her evidence got

examined one Sri. Bharmappa Shirahatti as RW2. The
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

25

said witness, stating that he knows the complete details

of the family of the parties to the petition, has stated in

his examination-in-chief that it is the petitioner-

husband, who has deserted his wife and prior to which,

had subjected her to cruelty both physically and

mentally. Interestingly, in spite of granting sufficient

time, this witness was not cross-examined from the

petitioner – husband’s side.

12. Therefore, from the analysis of the above

evidence, of both the parties, it clearly go to show that,

after making certain allegations, the petitioner –

husband has failed to establish them viz., when the

respondent-wife was staying with him, she had

subjected him to cruelty in any manner, and further she

herself has deserted him and left for her parental home.

On the contrary, the respondent – wife through her

detailed and elaborative evidence, supported by Exs.R1
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

26

and R2 and more importantly through undisputed

evidence of PW2, has been able to establish that she has

not deserted her husband and not subjected him to

cruelty. On the contrary, she has made those

allegations against her husband including an allegation

of bigamy against him, which is still under trial before

the competent Court.

13. The above analysis go to show that the

petitioner – husband might have been of the nature of

expecting some extra high respect to him and his family

members from his wife and her parents and he was not

satisfied with what actually he was getting. It can be

further gathered from the evidence that, he wanted that

his wife should praise him even in front of their

neighbors and other people, which she did not do. By

such an act itself, it cannot be concluded that the

petitioner-husband was insulted by his wife or that he
Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

27

was ill-treated. Therefore, it cannot be said that he was

subjected to cruelty by his wife. Similarly, the

respondent-wife, apart from dismantling the evidence of

PW1, insofar as the allegation of alleged desertion is

concerned, has further able to present her case to show

that she was deserted by her husband, which compelled

her to file a petition seeking maintenance from him.

These aspects have been appropriately analysed by the

Court below and the Court below has come to a right

conclusion holding that the petitioner before it has failed

to make out grounds entitling him for the relief of

dissolution of marriage with the respondent. As such,

we do not find any convincing ground to interfere in the

said observation made by the Court below in its order of

dismissal of the petition filed before it by the present

appellant.

Date of Judgment .14.06.2017 M.F.A. No.100286/2015 (FC)
Ashok Vs. Shamala

28

14. Accordingly, we proceed to pass the following

order:

ORDER

The appeal is dismissed. No order as to costs.

Sd/-

JUDGE

Sd/-

JUDGE

gab

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Not found ...? HOW TO WIN 498a, DV, DIVORCE; Search in Above link
MyNation Times Magzine


All Law documents and Judgment copies
Laws and Bare Acts of India
Landmark SC/HC Judgements
Rules and Regulations of India.

Recent Comments

STUDY REPORTS

Copyright © 2024 SC and HC Judgments Online at MyNation
×

Free Legal Help, Just WhatsApp Away

MyNation HELP line

We are Not Lawyers, but No Lawyer will give you Advice like We do

Please read Group Rules – CLICK HERE, If You agree then Please Register CLICK HERE and after registration  JOIN WELCOME GROUP HERE

We handle Women Centric biased laws like False Sectioin 498A IPC, Domestic Violence(DV ACT), Divorce, Maintenance, Alimony, Child Custody, HMA 24, 125 CrPc, 307, 312, 313, 323, 354, 376, 377, 406, 420, 497, 506, 509; TEP, RTI and many more…

MyNation FoundationMyNation FoundationMyNation Foundation