1
HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH, PRINCIPAL SEAT AT
JABALPUR
First Appeal No. 158 of 2000
Parties Name Reena Jaggi
vs
Randeep Jaggi
Bench Constituted Hon’ble Shri Justice S.K. Gangele
Hon’ble Shri Justice Anurag Shrivastava
Judgment delivered by Hon’ble Shri Justice S.K. Gangele
Whether approved for Yes/No
reporting
Name of counsels for parties For appellant: Atul Anand Awasthi,
Advocate.
For respondent/State: Ms. Kishwar
Khan, Advocate.
Law laid down
Significant paragraph
numbers
(J U D G M E N T)
Pronounced on : 15.11.2017
1. Appellant has filed this appeal against the judgment and
decree dated 23.02.2000 passed in R.C.S. No.30-A/1998 by Smt.
Radha Sonkar, Second Additional District Judge, Bhopal. The
trial Court awarded a decree of divorce in favour of the
respondent. Respondent filed a suit for grant of divorce pleading
that marriage between him and the appellant was solemnized on
11.06.1995 in accordance with Hindu rituals at Bhopal. The
appellant was arrogant. She did not behave with the respondent
and his family members properly. Her behavior was rude. Due to
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the behaviors of the appellant, there was mental cruelty to the
respondent. The appellant also misbehaved with the mother of the
respondent. She used to live at the place of her father and mother,
which was at Bhopal. She went to the house of her father and
mother on the date of birthday of the respondent. She informed
the respondent about her pregnancy by a letter. She left the
matrimonial home w.e.f. 29.101995 and did not return back. She
lodged a complaint for commission of offence punishable under
Section 498-A against the respondent, his father, mother and
sister at Bhopal. Thereafter, another case under Section 406 of
IPC was also registered. The family members were subsequently
granted bail by the Court. On 19.11.1996, the appellant lodged
another report at the police station alleging demand of dowry.
The respondent suffered mental cruelty and it was not possible for
him to live with the appellant. Hence, a decree of divorce be
granted in favour of the plaintiff-respondent.
2. The appellant in her written statement denied the pleadings
of the respondent. She pleaded that the behavior of the respondent
was not proper. He was cruel with the appellant. The mother of
the respondent always used to tell the appellant that she did not
bring sufficient dowry. She was forced to live at the residence of
her father and mother. The respondent-husband himself used to
take the appellant to the house of her parents. The appellant
celebrated birthday of the respondent. She was forced to live at
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the house of in laws when she was pregnant. The respondent
made repeated demand of dowry from the appellant and an
amount of Rs. One lakh was demanded. The appellant was forced
to lodge the report at the police station.
3. The trial Court framed issues that whether behavior of the
appellant was such that she practiced cruelty with the respondent
and whether a demand of dowry was made by the respondent and
it was not possible for the appellant and the respondent to live as
husband and wife? Additional issue was also framed that whether
due to registration of criminal cases on the complaints lodged by
the appellant cruelty was practiced?
4. The respondent examined himself and his father before the
trial Court to support his case. On behalf of the appellant, she
examined herself, her father, Mr. P.S. Mahajan and B.K. Kukreja
to support her case. Some documents were also filed by both the
parties.
5. The respondent in his deposition stated the same facts as
stated by him in the plaint filed before the trial Court. He deposed
that after marriage, the appellant lived with him for a period of
four months. She visited her house two times during the aforesaid
period. The mother of the respondent was admitted in the
hospital, the appellant did not come to see her. She lodged a false
report of demand of dowry and beating at the police station. On
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the aforesaid report, a criminal case under Section 498-A of IPC
was registered. Another case under Section 406 of IPC was also
registered against the respondent, his father, mother and sister.
The appellant used to give threats to the respondent. She left the
house without any cause. The respondent had taken many steps to
take the appellant back, however, she refused to live with the
appellant. The father of the respondent in his evidence deposed
that the behavior of the appellant was not proper. She used to
misbehave with his family members. On 29.10.1995 she left the
house without any cause and on our repeated requests she did not
return back. On her reports two criminal cases were registered
against the family members of the respondent.
6. The appellant in her evidence deposed that she lived with
the respondent for a period of four months after marriage.
However, due to cruel behavior of the family members and the
respondent for demand of dowry it became impossible to live
with the respondent. She informed the respondent about her
pregnancy, however, he did not visit the house. On 23.04.1996 a
son was born, even though the respondent did not come to the
house. On 19.12.1995 a suit was filed for divorce, which was
dismissed. Same facts have been deposed by DW-2 who is the
father of the appellant. He deposed that a demand of dowry of Rs.
One lakh was made from the appellant and in spite of pregnancy
of the appellant and after birth of the son, the respondent did not
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visit the house. His daughter was treated with cruelty. DW-3 P.S.
Mahajan, who is neighbour, deposed that he participated in the
marriage and after 3-4 months, the respondent had left the house
of the appellant. He had gone to the house of the respondent
alongwith some persons for a dialogue, but, demand of dowry of
Rs. One lakh was made there. Same facts have been deposed by
DW-4 B.K. Kukreja.
7. The trial Court after appreciation of evidence has held that
the appellant has lodged two criminal complaints against the
respondent and his family members. She had left the house of the
respondent without any cause within a period of four months after
marriage and lodged criminal cases against the family members.
Due to aforesaid act, mental cruelty was practiced with the
respondent. The trial Court disbelieved the fact that demand of
dowry was made with the appellant by the family members of the
respondent and awarded a decree of divorce.
8. It is an undisputed fact that the appellant lodged two FIRs
against the respondent and his family members. On the aforesaid
FIRs, one criminal case for commission of offence punishable
under Section 498-A of IPC and another criminal case for
commission of offence punishable under Section 406 of IPC were
registered against the father, mother and sister of the respondent
as well as the respondent himself and they obtained bail from the
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trial Court. Subsequently, the appellant left the house of the
respondent within four months of marriage. It was not possible to
make a demand of dowry within a period of four months of
marriage. The trial Court has held that the appellant practiced
with the respondent.
9. The Apex Court in the case of Samar Ghosh Vs. Jaya
Ghosh (2007) 4 SCC 511 has held as under in regard to mental
cruelty which is a ground of divorce under Section 13(1)(i)(i-a) of
the Hindu Marriage Act:-
“No uniform standard can ever be laid down
for guidance, yet we deem it appropriate to
enumerate some instances of human behaviour which
may be relevant in dealing with the cases of ‘mental
cruelty’. The instances indicated in the succeeding
paragraphs are only illustrative and not exhaustive.
(i) On consideration of complete matrimonial life
of the parties, acute mental pain, agony and
suffering as would not make possible for the
parties to live with each other could come within
the broad parameters of mental cruelty.
(ii) On comprehensive appraisal of the entire
matrimonial life of the parties, it becomes
abundantly clear that situation is such that the
wronged party cannot reasonably be asked to put
up with such conduct and continue to live with
other party.
(iii) Mere coldness or lack of affection cannot
amount to cruelty, frequent rudeness of language,
petulance of manner, indifference and neglect
may reach such a degree that it makes the
married life for the other spouse absolutely
intolerable.
(iv) Mental cruelty is a state of mind. The feeling
of deep anguish, disappointment, frustration in
one spouse caused by the conduct of other for a
long time may lead to mental cruelty.
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(v) A sustained course of abusive and humiliating
treatment calculated to torture, discommode or
render miserable life of the spouse.
(vi) Sustained unjustifiable conduct and
behaviour of one spouse actually affecting
physical and mental health of the other spouse.
The treatment complained of and the resultant
danger or apprehension must be very grave,
substantial and weighty.
(vii) Sustained reprehensible conduct, studied
neglect, indifference or total departure from the
normal standard of conjugal kindness causing
injury to mental health or deriving sadistic
pleasure can also amount to mental cruelty.
(viii) The conduct must be much more than
jealousy, selfishness, possessiveness, which
causes unhappiness and dissatisfaction and
emotional upset may not be a ground for grant of
divorce on the ground of mental cruelty.
(ix) Mere trivial irritations, quarrels, normal
wear and tear of the married life which happens
in day to day life would not be adequate for grant
of divorce on the ground of mental cruelty.
(x) The married life should be reviewed as a
whole and a few isolated instances over a period
of years will not amount to cruelty. The ill-
conduct must be persistent for a fairly lengthy
period, where the relationship has deteriorated to
an extent that because of the acts and behaviour
of a spouse, the wronged party finds it extremely
difficult to live with the other party any longer,
may amount to mental cruelty.
(xi) If a husband submits himself for an operation
of sterilization without medical reasons and
without the consent or knowledge of his wife and
similarly if the wife undergoes vasectomy or
abortion without medical reason or without the
consent or knowledge of her husband, such an act
of the spouse may lead to mental cruelty.
(xii) Unilateral decision of refusal to have
intercourse for considerable period without there
being any physical incapacity or valid reason
may amount to mental cruelty.
(xiii) Unilateral decision of either husband or
wife after marriage not to have child from the
marriage may amount to cruelty.
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(xiv) Where there has been a long period of
continuous separation, it may fairly be concluded
that the matrimonial bond is beyond repair. The
marriage becomes a fiction though supported by
a legal tie. By refusing to sever that tie, the law in
such cases, does not serve the sanctity of
marriage; on the contrary, it shows scant regard
for the feelings and emotions of the parties. In
such like situations, it may lead to mental
cruelty.”
“Under the breakdown theory, divorce
should be seen as a solution and an escape route
out of a difficult situation. Such divorce is
unconcerned with the wrongs of the past, but is
concerned with bringing the parties and the
children to terms with the new situation and
developments by working out the most
satisfactory basis upon which they may regulate
their relationship in the changed circumstances.
Once the parties have separated and the
separation has continued for a sufficient length of
time and one of them has presented a petition for
divorce, it can well be presumed that the
marriage has broken down. The court, no doubt,
should seriously make an endeavour to reconcile
the parties; yet, if it is found that the breakdown
is irreparable, then divorce should not be
withheld. The consequences of preservation in
law of the unworkable marriage which has long
ceased to be effective are bound to be a source of
greater misery for the parties.”
10. The Apex Court further in the case of Suman Kapur Vs.
Sudhir Kapur (2009) 1 SCC 422 has held as under in regard to
mental cruelty:-
“30. The concept of cruelty has been dealt with in
Halsbury’s Laws of England [Vol.13, 4th Edition
Para 1269] as under;
“The general rule in all cases of cruelty is that
the entire matrimonial relationship must be
considered, and that rule is of special value when
the cruelty consists not of violent acts but of
injurious reproaches, complaints, accusations or
taunts. In cases where no violence is averred, it is
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undesirable to consider judicial pronouncements
with a view to creating certain categories of acts
or conduct as having or lacking the nature or
quality which renders them capable or incapable
in all circumstances of amounting to cruelty; for
it is the effect of the conduct rather than its nature
which is of paramount importance in assessing a
complaint of cruelty. Whether one spouse has
been guilty of cruelty to the other is essentially a
question of fact and previously decided cases
have little, if any, value. The court should bear in
mind the physical and mental condition of the
parties as well as their social status, and should
consider the impact of the personality and
conduct of one spouse on the mind of the other,
weighing all incidents and quarrels between the
spouses from that point of view; further, the
conduct alleged must be examined in the light of
the complainant’s capacity for endurance and the
extent to which that capacity is known to the other
spouse”.
31. In Gollins V. Gollins 1964 AC 644: (1963)2 All
ER 966, Lord Reid stated:
“No one has ever attempted to give a
comprehensive definition of cruelty and I do not
intend to try to do so. Much must depend on the
knowledge and intention of the respondent, on the
nature of his (or her) conduct, and on the
character and physical or mental weakness of the
spouses, and probably no general statement is
equally applicable in all cases except the
requirement that the party seeking relief must
show actual or probable injury to life, limb or
health”.
32. Lord Pearce also made similar observations;
“It is impossible to give a comprehensive
definition of cruelty, but when reprehensible
conduct or departure from normal standards of
conjugal kindness causes injury to health or an
apprehension of it, is, I think, cruelty if a
reasonable person, after taking due account of
the temperament and all the other particular
circumstances would considered that the conduct
complained of is such that this spouse should not
be called on to endure it”. [see also Russell v.
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Russell, (1897) AC 395 : (1895-99) All ER Rep
1].
33. The test of cruelty has been laid down by this
court in the leading case of N.G. Dastane v. S.
Dastane, (1975)2 SCC 326 thus:
“The enquiry therefore has to be whether the
conduct charges as cruelty is of such a character
as to cause in the mind of the petitioner a
reasonable apprehension that it will be harmful
or injurious for him to live with the
respondent….”
34. In Sirajmohmedkhan Janmohamadkhan v.
Haizunnisa Yasinkhan Anr., (1981) 4 SCC 250,
this Court stated that the concept of legal cruelty
changes according to the changes and advancement
of social concept and standards of living. It was
further stated that to establish legal cruelty, it is not
necessary that physical violence should be used.
Continuous cessation of marital intercourse or total
indifference on the part of the husband towards
marital obligations would lead to legal cruelty.
35. In Shobha Rani v. Madhukar Reddi, (1988) 1
SCC 105, this Court examined the concept of cruelty.
It was observed that the term `cruelty’ has not been
defined in the Hindu Marriage Act. It has been used
in Section 13(1)(ia) of the Act in the context of
human conduct and behavior in relation to or in
respect of matrimonial duties or obligations. It is a
course of conduct of one spouse which adversely
affects the other spouse. The cruelty may be mental
or physical, intentional or unintentional. If it is
physical, it is a question of degree which is relevant.
If it is mental, the enquiry must begin as to the nature
of the cruel treatment and then as to the impact of
such treatment on the mind of the other spouse.
Whether it caused reasonable apprehension that it
would be harmful or injurious to live with the other,
ultimately, is a matter of inference to be drawn by
taking into account the nature of the conduct and its
effect on the complaining spouse.
36. There may, however, 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
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cruelty will be established if the conduct itself is
proved or admitted. The absence of intention should
not make any difference in the case, if by ordinary
sense in human affairs, the act complained of could
otherwise be regarded as cruelty. Mens rea is not a
necessary element in cruelty. The relief to the party
cannot be denied on the ground that there has been
no deliberate or wilful ill-treatment.
37. In V. Bhagat v. D. Bhagat (Mrs.), (1994) 1 SCC
337, the Court observed;
“Mental Cruelty in Section 13(1)(ia) can broadly
be defined as that conduct which inflicts upon the
other party such mental pain and suffering as
would make it not possible for that party to live
with the other. In other words, mental cruelty
must be of such a nature that the parties cannot
reasonably be expected to live together. The
situation must be such that the wronged party
cannot reasonably be asked to put up with such
unintentional. If it is physical, it is a question of
fact and degree. If it is mental, the enquiry must
begin as to the nature of the cruel treatment and
then as to the impact of such treatment on the
mind of the spouse. Whether it caused reasonable
apprehension that it would be harmful or
injurious to live with the other, ultimately, is a
matter of inference to be drawn by taking into
account the nature of the conduct and its effect on
the complaining spouse. There may, however, 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. The absence
of intention should not make any difference in the
case, if by ordinary sense in human affairs, the
act complained of could otherwise be regarded as
cruelty. Intention is not a necessary element in
cruelty. The relief to the party cannot be denied
on the ground that there has been no deliberate
or wilful ill-treatment or conduct and continue to
live with the other party. It is not necessary to
prove that the mental cruelty is such as to cause
injury to the health of the petitioner. While
arriving at such conclusion, regard must be had
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to the social status, educational level of the
parties, the society they move in, the possibility or
otherwise of the parties ever living together in
case they are already living apart and all other
relevant facts and circumstances which it is
neither possible nor desirable to set out
exhaustively. What is cruelty in one case may not
amount to cruelty in another case. It is a matter
to be determined in each case having regard to
the facts and circumstances of that case. If it is a
case of accusations and allegations, regard must
also be had to the context in which they were
made”.
38. This Court in Chetan Dass v. Kamla Devi, (2001)
4 SCC 250, stated;
“14. Matrimonial matters are matters of delicate
human and emotional relationship. It demands
mutual trust, regard, respect, love and affection
with sufficient play for reasonable adjustments
with the spouse. The relationship has to conform
to the social norms as well. The matrimonial
conduct has now come to be governed by statute
framed, keeping in view such norms and changed
social order. It is sought to be controlled in the
interest of the individuals as well as in broader
perspective, for regulating matrimonial norms for
making of a well-knit, healthy and not a disturbed
and porous society. The institution of marriage
occupies an important place and role to play in
the society, in general. Therefore, it would not be
appropriate to apply any submission of
“irretrievably broken marriage” as a straitjacket
formula for grant of relief of divorce. This aspect
has to be considered in the background of the
other facts and circumstances of the case”.
39. Mental cruelty has also been examined by this
Court in Parveen Mehta v. Inderjit Mehta (2002) 5
SCC 706 thus;
“Cruelty for the purpose of Section 13 (1)(ia) is to
be taken as a behavior by one spouse towards the
other, which causes reasonable apprehension in
the mind of the latter that it is not safe for him or
her to continue the matrimonial relationship with
the other. Mental Cruelty is a state of mind and
feeling with one of the spouses due to the
behavior or behavioral pattern by the other.
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Unlike the case of physical cruelty, mental cruelty
is difficult to establish by direct evidence. It is
necessarily a matter of inference to be drawn
from the facts and circumstances of the case. A
feeling of anguish, disappointment and
frustration in one spouse caused by the conduct
of the other can only be appreciated on assessing
the attending facts and circumstances in which
the two partners of matrimonial life have been
living. The inference has to be drawn from the
attending facts and circumstances taken
cumulatively. In case of mental cruelty it will not
be a correct approach to take an instance of
misbehavior in isolation and then pose the
question whether such behavior is sufficient by
itself to cause mental cruelty. The approach
should be to take the cumulative effect of the facts
and circumstances emerging from the evidence
on record and then draw a fair inference whether
the petitioner in the divorce petition has been
subjected to mental cruelty due to conduct of the
other.”
40. In A. Jayachandra v. Aneel Kaur, (2005) 2 SCC
22, the Court observed as under:
“10. The expression “cruelty” has not been
defined in the Act. Cruelty can be physical or
mental. Cruelty which is a ground for dissolution
of marriage may be defined as wilful and
unjustifiable conduct of such character as to
cause danger to life, limb or health, bodily or
mental, or as to give rise to a reasonable
apprehension of such a danger. The question of
mental cruelty has to be considered in the light of
the norms of marital ties of the particular society
to which the parties belong, their social values,
status, environment in which they live. Cruelty, as
noted above, includes mental cruelty, which falls
within the purview of a matrimonial wrong.
Cruelty need not be physical. If from the conduct
of the spouse, same is established and/or an
inference can be legitimately drawn that the
treatment of the spouse is such that it causes an
apprehension in the mind of the other spouse,
about his or her mental welfare then this conduct
amounts to cruelty. In a delicate human
relationship like matrimony, one has to see the
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probabilities of the case. The concept proof
beyond the shadow of doubt, is to be applied to
criminal trials and not to civil matters and
certainly not to matters of such delicate personal
relationship as those of husband and wife.
Therefore, one has to see what are the
probabilities in a case and legal cruelty has to be
found out, not merely as a matter of fact, but as
the effect on the mind of the complainant spouse
because of the acts or omissions of the other.
Cruelty may be physical or corporeal or may be
mental. In physical cruelty, there can be tangible
and direct evidence, but in the case of mental
cruelty there may not at the same time be direct
evidence. In cases where there is no direct
evidence, Courts are required to probe into the
mental process and mental effect of incidents that
are brought out in evidence. It is in this view that
one has to consider the evidence in matrimonial
disputes.”
41. In Vinita Saxena v. Pankaj Pandit, (2006) 3 SCC
778, the Court said;
“31. It is settled by a catena of decisions that
mental cruelty can cause even more serious
injury than the physical harm and create in the
mind of the injured appellant such apprehension
as is contemplated in the section. It is to be
determined on whole facts of the case and the
matrimonial relations between the spouses. To
amount to cruelty, there must be such willful
treatment of the party which caused suffering in
body or mind either as an actual fact or by way of
apprehension in such a manner as to render the
continued living together of spouses harmful or
injurious having regard to the circumstances of
the case.
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
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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”.
42. It was further stated:
“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 the statute is generally described as
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, complaints, accusations or
taunts. It may be mental such as indifference and
frigidity towards the 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
apprehension of such injury. There are two sides
to be considered in case of cruelty. From the
appellants, 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
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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.”
11. The Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of K. Shrinivas Rao vs
D.A. Deepa, (2013) 5 SCC 226 has held as under about the
mental cruelty if on false allegations wife lodges complaints
against the husband:
28. Pursuant to this complaint, the police
registered a case under Section 498-A of the IPC. The
appellant-husband and his parents had to apply for
anticipatory bail, which was granted to them. Later,
the respondent-wife withdrew the complaint.
Pursuant to the withdrawal, the police filed a closure
report. Thereafter, the respondent-wife filed a protest
petition. The trial court took cognizance of the case
against the appellant-husband and his parents (CC
No. 62/2002). What is pertinent to note is that the
respondent-wife filed criminal appeal in the High
Court challenging the acquittal of the appellant-
husband and his parents of the offences under the
Dowry Prohibition Act and also the acquittal of his
parents of the offence punishable under Section 498-A
of the IPC. She filed criminal revision seeking
enhancement of the punishment awarded to the
appellant-husband for the offence under Section 498-A
of the IPC in the High Court which is still pending.
When the criminal appeal filed by the appellant-
husband challenging his conviction for the offence
under Section 498-A of the IPC was allowed and he
was acquitted, the respondent-wife filed criminal
appeal in the High Court challenging the said
acquittal. During this period respondent-wife and
members of her family have also filed complaints in
the High Court complaining about the appellant-
husband so that he would be removed from the job.
The conduct of the respondent- wife in filing a
complaint making unfounded, indecent and
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defamatory allegation against her mother-in-law, in
filing revision seeking enhancement of the sentence
awarded to the appellant-husband, in filing appeal
questioning the acquittal of the appellant-husband
and acquittal of his parents indicates that she made
all attempts to ensure that he and his parents are put
in jail and he is removed from his job. We have no
manner of doubt that this conduct has caused mental
cruelty to the appellant- husband.
29. In our opinion, the High Court wrongly
held that because the appellant-husband and the
respondent-wife did not stay together there is no
question of the parties causing cruelty to each other.
Staying together under the same roof is not a pre-
condition for mental cruelty. Spouse can cause
mental cruelty by his or her conduct even while he or
she is not staying under the same roof. In a given
case, while staying away, a spouse can cause mental
cruelty to the other spouse by sending vulgar and
defamatory letters or notices or filing complaints
containing indecent allegations or by initiating
number of judicial proceedings making the other
spouse’s life miserable. This is what has happened in
this case.”
12. In the present case, the appellant lodged criminal
complaints against the husband-respondent and his family
members. They were released on bail subsequently. Apart from
this, she lived for a brief period with the husband. Looking to the
long lapse of time, it is not possible for the husband and the wife
to live together. Hence, in our opinion, the trial Court has rightly
granted decree of divorce. We do not find any merit in this
appeal. It is hereby dismissed. Parties shall bear their own costs.
(S.K. Gangele) (Anurag Shrivastava)
Judge Judge
vkt
Digitally signed by VINOD KUMAR
TIWARI
Date: 2017.11.15 15:27:47 +05’30’
