Source: https://mynation.net/docs/written-arguments/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 22:34:09+00:00

Document:
1. The averments made in objections to main petition and objections to Interim application may kindly be read as part and parcel of these arguments.
2. The only Un-disputed facts are Marriage between petitioner and respondent-1 on 14-10-2009, venue of marriage that is tiptur, and both belonging to Roman catholic Christian community.
3. The petition is filed under Domestic Violence act alleging Domestic violence. As per the petition, petitioner had no troubles from respondents till six months from the date of marriage. The date of marriage is 14-10-2009 the time of six months lasts upto 13-04-2010. Petitioner in her petition alleges cruelty, Demand for more (1 lakh Rupee) dowry, criminal intimidation with knife, physical assaults, taking of signatures on blank papers etc which started after six months of marriage.
4. The Respondent 3 & 4 are Roman catholic sisters one is staying in Tumkur and another is staying in Tiptur and in no way related to petitioner or respondent-1 and not even sharing any common accommodation or household are impleaded as perprators of Domestic violence. This is abuse of process of court made by petitioner.
5. The Respondent-1 files detail statement and objections and deny domestic violence and other allegations of cruelty, demand for dowry, physical assaults etc and points out that there are no specific allegations in the complaint. All the allegations are vague. No specific dates were mentioned etc. Still after filing of objections there is no rejoinder from petitioner explaining in detail the averments of her petition.
6. The Respondent-1 also filed affidavit swearing to several contents and alleges that petitioner has filed false statement of facts in her complaint and affidavit. She only lived for 25 days in his house. Troubles by her started immediately after her marriage. She had an intention to go to her fathers place to look after her lands. Petitioner is the trouble shooter. Now lately alleging false things wants to misuse law for unlawful gains by the abuse of process of court.
8. Then counter checked in the chief electoral officer of Karnataka website and verified the voter list of the said village of petitioner. To the surprise it is found that petitioner has given application to election branch to include her name as on 01-01-2010 and she has not given her husband name, she has given her father name, she has given her age as 25 years, she has given her house no as 9 that is that of her fathers house. The question that arose here is as on 01-01-2010 how she has given her name to election branch of M.Dasapura village? Whether her statement that she is looked after well by respondents upto six months that is upto 13-04-2010 carried any weight? Whether she had an intention to go away from her husband (Tiptur) when she is being looked after well in that relevant period?
10. In order to prove petitioner’s allegations, petitioner has not produced a single piece of paper. Petitioner has not produced any document showing any earnings of respondent-1. Respondent 3 & 4 has already produced employee roll to show that neither respondent 1 & 2 working in their institution as full time or temporary employee. The petitioner alleges exaggerated amount of salary which is totally false averments. Filing false and misleading averments are abuse of process of court.
11. Sri. Amruth Kumar Vs. Smt. Chithra Shetty, Citation: 2010 (1) KCCR 459, Hon’ble Justice: Subhash B. Adi, J. “Hence, word appearing in the proviso to definition of ‘respondent’ has to be understood to mean only male relative of the husband or male partner of the aggrieved person with whom she is in domestic relationship. The definition of the word ‘respondent’ under Section 2(q) of the Act does not include woman; The word relative appearing in the proviso to Section 2(q) of the Act only means other than woman relative of the husband or male partner of the aggrieved person; The definition of ‘respondent’ means only adult male member, who is or has been in domestic relationship with aggrieved person and not all adult male members.
13. In order to substantiate above averments and in order to enlighten upon the subject, iam bringing kind attention of Hon’ble court about the ratio decidendi laid down by different higher courts of our country. One such point is the care that should be adopted by Magistrate court in disposing interim application regarding Domestic violence case. PARTIES: Razia Begum vs State Nct Of Delhi & Ors, Crl.MC- 4246/09 & 4375/09, COURT: DELHI HIGH COURT, Date of Order: 4th October, 2010, BENCH: JUSTICE SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA, AVAILABLE SOURCE:- http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1404656/ , http://lobis.nic.in/dhc/ :- It has to be noticed that although Domestic Violence Act is not a penal law but it is a peculiar Act where non-compliance of the order passed under the Act has been made as an offence under Section 31 of the Act and an FIR can be registered against the person who does not comply with the order and this offence is triable by the same Magistrate who passed the interim order for protection or maintenance. In view of this provision under Section 31, it becomes incumbent and responsibility of the Magistrate to be careful in passing order and to specify as to whether there was domestic relationship between the aggrieved person and the respondent and who was the person responsible for compliance of the order.
14. The relationship-domestic violence, false accusations, misuse of act has been elicited in the same case of above quoted in the following words:- PARTIES: VIJAY VERMA VS STATE N.C.T. OF DELHI & ANR., Crl. M.C. No.3878/2009, COURT: DELHI HIGH COURT, Date of Order: 13th August, 2010, BENCH: JUSTICE SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA, AVAILABLE SOURCE:- http://lobis.nic.in/dhc/SND/judgement/16-08-2010/SND13082010CRLMM38782009.pdf :- Filing of a petition under Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act by the petitioner taking shelter of domestic relationship and domestic violence needs to be considered so that this Act is not misused to settle property disputes. Domestic relationship is defined under the Act in Section 2(f) as under: “(f) ‘domestic relationship’ means a relationship between two persons who live or have, at any point of time, lived together in a shared household, when they are related by consanguinity, marriage, or through a relationship in the nature of marriage, adoption or are family members living together as a joint family.” A perusal of this provision makes it clear that domestic relationship arises in respect of an aggrieved person if the aggrieved person had lived together with the respondent in a shared household. This living together can be either soon before filing of petition or ‘at any point of time’. The problem arises with the meaning of phrase “at any point of time”. Does that mean that living together at any stage in the past would give right to a person to become aggrieved person to claim domestic relationship? I consider that “at any point of time” under the Act only means where an aggrieved person has been continuously living in the shared household as a matter of right but for some reason the aggrieved person has to leave the house temporarily and when she returns, she is not allowed to enjoy her right to live in the property. However, “at any point of time” cannot be defined as “at any point of time in the past” whether the right to live survives or not. For example if there is a joint family where father has several sons with daughters-in-law living in a house and ultimately sons, one by one or together, decide that they should live separate with their own families and they establish separate household and start living with their respective families separately at different places; can it be said that wife of each of the sons can claim a right to live in the house of father-in-law because at one point of time she along with her husband had lived in the shared household. If this meaning is given to the shared household then the whole purpose of Domestic Violence Act shall stand defeated. Where a family member leaves the shared household to establish his own household, and actually establishes his own household, he cannot claim to have a right to move an application under Section 12 of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act on the basis of domestic relationship. Domestic relationship comes to an end once the son along with his family moved out of the joint family and established his own household or when a daughter gets married and establishes her own household with her husband. Such son, daughter, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, if they have any right in the property say because of coparcenary or because of inheritance, such right can be claimed by an independent civil suit and an application under Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act cannot be filed by a person who has established his separate household and ceased to have a domestic relationship. Domestic relationship continues so long as the parties live under the same roof and enjoy living together in a shared household. Only a compelled or temporarily going out by aggrieved person shall fall in phrase ‘at any point of time’, say, wife has gone to her parents house or to a relative or some other female member has gone to live with her some relative, and, all her articles and belongings remain within the same household and she has not left the household permanently, the domestic relationship continues. However, where the living together has been given up and a separate household is established and belongings are removed, domestic relationship comes to an end and a relationship of being relatives of each other survives. This is very normal in families that a person whether, a male or a female attains self sufficiency after education or otherwise and takes a job lives in some other city or country, enjoys life there, settles home there. He cannot be said to have domestic relationship with the persons whom he left behind. His relationship that of a brother and sister, father and son, father and daughter, father and daughter-in-law etc survives but the domestic relationship of living in a joint household would not survive & comes to an end.
15. Regarding Shared Household in the act it is explained in following words:- PARTIES: VIJAY VERMA VS STATE N.C.T. OF DELHI & ANR., Crl. M.C. No.3878/2009, COURT: DELHI HIGH COURT, Date of Order: 13th August, 2010, BENCH: JUSTICE SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA, AVAILABLE SOURCE:- http://lobis.nic.in/dhc/SND/judgement/16-08-2010/SND13082010CRLMM38782009.pdf :- This meaning of domestic relationship has sense when we come to definition of domestic violence and the purpose of the Act. The purpose of the Act is to give remedy to the aggrieved persons against domestic violence. The domestic violence can take place only when one is living in shared household with the respondents. The acts of abuses, emotional or economic, physical or sexual, verbal or nonverbal if committed when one is living in the same shared household constitute domestic violence. However, such acts of violence can be committed even otherwise also when one is living separate. When such acts of violence take place when one is living separate, these may be punishable under different provisions of IPC or other penal laws, but, they cannot be covered under Domestic Violence Act. One has to make distinction between violence committed on a person living separate in a separate household and the violence committed on a person living in the shared household. Only violence committed by a person while living in the shared household can constitute domestic violence. A person may be threatening another person 100 miles away on telephone or by messages etc. This may amount to an offence under IPC, but, this cannot amount to domestic violence. Similarly, emotional blackmail, economic abuse and physical abuse can take place even when persons are living miles away. Such abuses are not covered under Domestic Violence Act but they are liable to be punished under Penal laws. Domestic Violence is a violence which is committed when parties are in domestic relationship, sharing same household and sharing all the household goods with an opportunity to commit violence.
16. Interpretation of the statute by delhi High Court. PARTIES: Nagesh Malik vs Payal Malik, Crl. Rev. P. No. 252/2010, 253/2010 & 338/2010, COURT: DELHI HIGH COURT, Date of Order: 29th July, 2010, BENCH: JUSTICE SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA, AVAILABLE SOURCE:- https://mynation.net/docs/253-2010/ :- It is apparent that domestic relationship arises between the two persons, who have lived together in a shared household and when they are related by consanguinity, marriage or through a relationship in the nature of marriage, adoption or are family members living together as a joint family. The definition speaks of living together at any point of time however it does not speak of having relation at any point of time. Thus, if the domestic relationship continued and if the parties have lived together at any point of time in a shared household, the person can be a respondent but if the relationship does not continue and the relationship had been in the past and is not in the present, a person cannot be made respondent on the ground of a past relationship. The domestic relationship between the aggrieved person and the respondent must be present and alive at the time when complaint under Domestic Violence Act is filed and if this relationship is not alive on the date when complaint is filed, the domestic relationship cannot be said to be there.
17. Factual Interpretation of the statute by delhi High Court. PARTIES: Nagesh Malik vs Payal Malik, Crl. Rev. P. No. 252/2010, 253/2010 & 338/2010, COURT: DELHI HIGH COURT, Date of Order: 29th July, 2010, BENCH: JUSTICE SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA, AVAILABLE SOURCE:- https://mynation.net/docs/253-2010/ :- The girl and the parents of the girl knew it very well that they had selected a person for marriage with whom the girl was going to live abroad and the matrimonial home and the shared household was going to be outside India. This act of marrying a person settled abroad is a voluntary act of the girl. If she had not intended to enjoy the fat salary which boys working abroad get and the material facilities available abroad, she could have refused to marry him and settled for a boy having moderate salary within India. After having chosen a person living abroad, putting the responsibility, after failure of marriage, on the shoulders on his parents and making them criminals in the eyes of law because matrimonial ties between the two could not last for long, does not sound either legally correct or morally correct. How can the parents of a boy who is working abroad, living abroad, an adult, free to take his own decisions, be arrayed as criminals or respondents if the marriage between him and his wife failed due to any reason whatsoever after few years of marriage. If the sin committed by such parents of boy is that they facilitated the marriage, then this sin is equally committed by parents of the girl. If such marriage fails then parents of both bride and groom would have to share equal responsibility. The responsibility of parents of the groom cannot be more. Shelter of Indian culture and joint family cannot be taken to book only relatives of boy. A womans shared household in India in such cases is also her parents house where she lived before marriage and not her in-laws house where she did not live after marriage.
18. Interpretation of the statute by delhi High Court. PARTIES: Nagesh Malik vs Payal Malik, Crl. Rev. P. No. 252/2010, 253/2010 & 338/2010, COURT: DELHI HIGH COURT, Date of Order: 29th July, 2010, BENCH: JUSTICE SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA, AVAILABLE SOURCE:- https://mynation.net/docs/253-2010/ :- It is important to consider as to what “family” is and what “joint family” is. As per Blacks Law Dictionary (VI Edition) “family” means a collective body of persons who live in one house under one head or management. Dictionary states that the meaning of word “family” necessarily depends on field of law in which word is used, but this is the most common meaning. “Family” also means a group of blood relatives and all the relations who descend from a common ancestor or who spring from a common root. However, for the purpose of domestic violence act where the object is to protect a woman from domestic violence, “family” has to be defined as a collective body of persons who live in one house under one head or management. In Chambers Dictionary (1994-95) again the “family” is defined as all those who live in one house i.e. parents, children servants; parents and their children. In Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (1993 ed.) “family” is defined as a group of persons living in one household including parents and their children, boarders, servants and such a group is a organizational unit of society.
20. Interpretation of the statute by delhi High Court. PARTIES: Nagesh Malik vs Payal Malik, Crl. Rev. P. No. 252/2010, 253/2010 & 338/2010, COURT: DELHI HIGH COURT, Date of Order: 29th July, 2010, BENCH: JUSTICE SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA, AVAILABLE SOURCE:- https://mynation.net/docs/253-2010/ :- It is apparent that domestic relationship arises between the two persons, who have lived together in a shared household and when they are related by consanguinity, marriage or through a relationship in the nature of marriage, adoption or are family members living together as a joint family. The definition speaks of living together at any point of time however it does not speak of having relation at any point of time. Thus, if the domestic relationship continued and if the parties have lived together at any point of time in a shared household, the person can be a respondent but if the relationship does not continue and the relationship had been in the past and is not in the present, a person cannot be made respondent on the ground of a past relationship. The domestic relationship between the aggrieved person and the respondent must be present and alive at the time when complaint under Domestic Violence Act is filed and if this relationship is not alive on the date when complaint is filed, the domestic relationship cannot be said to be there.
21. Interpretation of the statute by delhi High Court. PARTIES: Nagesh Malik vs Payal Malik, Crl. Rev. P. No. 252/2010, 253/2010 & 338/2010, COURT: DELHI HIGH COURT, Date of Order: 29th July, 2010, BENCH: JUSTICE SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA, AVAILABLE SOURCE:- https://mynation.net/docs/253-2010/ :- Under no circumstances it can be said that brother of husband, who was a major and independent, living separately from this husband and wife, had any kind of domestic relationship or moral or legal responsibility/obligations towards his brothers wife. He had not lived in domestic relationship with Payal Malik at any point of time. Merely because a person is brother of the husband he cannot be arrayed as a respondent, nor does an MM gets authority over each and every relative of the husband, without going into the fact whether a domestic relationship or shared household was there between the aggrieved person and the respondent.
22. Interpretation of the statute by delhi High Court. PARTIES: Nagesh Malik vs Payal Malik, Crl. Rev. P. No. 252/2010, 253/2010 & 338/2010, COURT: DELHI HIGH COURT, Date of Order: 29th July, 2010, BENCH: JUSTICE SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA, AVAILABLE SOURCE:- https://mynation.net/docs/253-2010/ :- The purpose and object of Domestic Violence and provision under Section 125 Cr.P.C. is different. While Domestic Violence Act has been enacted by the Parliament to prevent acts of domestic violence on women living in a shared household. Section 125 of Cr.P.C. is to prevent vagrancy where wife is left high and dry without maintenance. Law gives a right to claim maintenance under Civil Law as well as Section 125 Cr.P.C. even to a divorced wife, but an act of domestic violence cannot be committed on a divorced wife, who is not living with her husband or family and is free to live wherever she wants. She has a right to claim maintenance and enforce other rights as per law. She has a right to claim custody of children as per law but denial of these rights do not amount to domestic violence. Domestic Violence is not perceived in this manner.
23. Interpretation of the statute by delhi High Court. PARTIES: Nagesh Malik vs Payal Malik, Crl. Rev. P. No. 252/2010, 253/2010 & 338/2010, COURT: DELHI HIGH COURT, Date of Order: 29th July, 2010, BENCH: JUSTICE SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA, AVAILABLE SOURCE:- https://mynation.net/docs/253-2010/ :- There was no justification for directing brother of the husband to pay this amount. Once a son grows and he starts earning, marries, makes his separate home, and sires children the burden of his wife cannot be put on the shoulders of his father or brother on an estrangement between husband and wife. This burden has to be borne by the husband alone and not by the parents or bothers or sister of the husband, unless and until the husband had been contributing to the joint family as a member of HUF and has a right of deriving benefits from the joint family. If the husband had not been contributing or deriving benefits from the joint family, had not been member of the joint family and the parents had been treated like any other relative, how can the parents be burdened with the responsibility of his wife.
24. Regarding False dowry allegations, Interpretation of the statute by delhi High Court. PARTIES: SMT NEERA SINGH VS STATE OF DELHI, DELHI HC, COURT: DELHI HIGH COURT, Date of Order: on 23 February, 2007, BENCH: JUSTICE SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA, AVAILABLE SOURCE:- http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1061764/ , http://lobis.nic.in/dhc/ :- Had given a landmark judgment that deals with the issue of Dowry allegations: “Now-a-days, exorbitant claims are made about the amount spent on marriage and other ceremonies and on dowry and gifts. In some cases claim is made of spending crores of rupees on dowry without disclosing the source of income and how funds flowed. I consider time has come that courts should insist upon disclosing source of such funds and verification of income from tax returns and police should insist upon the compliance of the Rules under Dowry Prohibition Act and should not entertain any complaint, if the rules have not been complied with. If huge cash amounts are alleged to be given at the time of marriage which are not accounted anywhere, such cash transactions should be brought to the notice of the Income Tax Department by the Court so that source of income is verified and the person is brought to law. It is only because the Courts are not insisting upon compliance with the relevant provisions of law while entertaining such complaints and action is taken merely on the statement of the complainant, without any verification that a large number of false complaints are pouring in.” ………… The Metropolitan Magistrates should take cognizance of the offence under the Act in respect of the offence of giving dowry whenever allegations are made that dowry was given as a consideration of marriage, after demand. Courts should also insist upon compliance with the rules framed under the Act and if rules are not complied with, an adverse inference should be drawn. If huge cash amounts are alleged to be given at the time of marriage which are not accounted anywhere, such cash transactions should be brought to the notice of the Income Tax Department by the Court so that source of income is verified and the person is brought to law. It is only because the Courts are not insisting upon compliance with the relevant provisions of law while entertaining such complaints and action is taken merely on the statement of the complainant, without any verification that a large number of false complaints are pouring in. ………. I consider that the kinds of vague allegations as made in the complaint by the petitioner against every member of the family of husband cannot be accepted by any court at their face value and the allegations have to be scrutinized carefully by the Court before framing charge. A perusal of the complaint of the petitioner would show that she made all kinds of allegations against her husband regarding beating, that her husband was having illicit relationship with 35 girls; he forced her to write suicide note, abused her, taunted her, threatened and told her that he was getting another bride of more richer family while she was in Rewari with her husband and she made telephone call to her parents who came to Rewari and took her to parental home. She had also given phone to one of her friends Jigyasa. A perusal of the statement of Jigyasa would show that she told Jigyasa that it was her husband who was torturing her and behaving with cruelty. However, in her complaint, she made vague and omnibus allegations against every other family members. The statement made by her and other witnesses have been scrutinized by me, except vague allegations and allegations of taunting, there are no allegations of perpetuating cruelty on her by any of the four respondents in order to compel her to bring more dowry or any particular items.
27. BURDEN OF PROOF :- IN DR. N.G. DASTANE V. MRS. S. DASTANE AIR 1975 SC 1534 , Supreme Court observed that normally the burden lies on the petitioner to establish his or her plea that the respondent had meted out cruelty to the petitioner and that the standard of proof required in matrimonial cases under the Act is not to establish the charge of cruelty beyond reasonable doubt but merely one of weighing the various probabilities to find out whether the preponderance is in favour of the existence of the said fact alleged. As to what is the nature of cruelty that is necessary to be substantiated also, it has been pointed out that unlike the requirement under English law which must be of such a character as to cause danger to life, limb or heath so as to give rise to a reasonable apprehension of such a danger, the courts under the Act in question has to only see whether the petitioner proved that the respondent has treated the petitioner with such cruelty as to cause a reasonable apprehension in mind that it will be harmful or injurious to live together, keeping into consideration the resultant possibilities of harm or injury to health, reputation, the working-career or the like.
28. UN CONTROLABLE BREAK UP:- IN V. BHAGAT V. D. BHAGAT (MRS.) AIR 1994 SC 710, 1994 SCC (1) 337 , That was a case wherein the husband filed a petition against the wife for divorce on the ground of adultery. In the written statement filed by the wife in the said proceedings, she alleged that the husband was “suffering from mental hallucination”, that his was a “morbid mind …. for which he needs expert psychiatric treatment”, and that he was “suffering from paranoid disorder” etc., and that during cross-examination several questions were put to him that the petitioner and several members of his family including his grandfather were lunatics and that the streak of insanity was running in the entire family. It is in the said context this Court though held the allegations leveled against the wife were not proved the counter allegations made by the wife against the husband certainly constituted mental cruelty of such a nature that the husband cannot reasonably be asked to live with the wife thereafter. The husband, it was also held, would be justified to say that it is not possible for him to live with the wife. In rejecting the stand of the wife that she wants to live with her husband, this Court observed that she was deliberately feigning a posture, wholly unnatural and beyond comprehension of a reasonable person and held that in such circumstances the obvious conclusion has to be that she has resolved to live in agony only to make life a miserable hell for the husband, as well.
30. ATTITUDE OF PARTIES AT RELEVANT PERIOD:- DEB NARAYAN HALDER VS SMT. ANUSHREE HALDER : AIR 2003 SC 3174, Evidence of contemporaneous nature therefore plays an important role in such cases as it may reveals the thinking and attitude of the parties towards each other at the relevant time. Such evidence is usually found in the form of letters written by the parties to each other or to their friends and relatives or recorded in any other document of contemporaneous nature. If really the respondent was subjected to cruelty and harassment in the manner alleged by her, we have no doubt she would have written about such treatment to her friends and relatives with whom she may have corresponded. The reports allegedly made by her to the police may have thrown some light on this aspect of the matter. Such evidence is completely absent in this case.
31. BURDEN LIES WITH PETITIONER:- NARAYAN GANESH DASTANE VS SUCHETA NARAYAN DASTANE AIR 1975 SC 1534:- The burden of proof in a matrimonial petition-must lie on the petitioner because ordinarily the burden lies on the party which affirms a fact, not on the party which denied it. This principle accords with commonsense, as it is much easier to prove a positive than a negative. The petitioner must, therefore. prove that the respondents had treated him with cruelty within; the meaning of r. 10(1)(b) of the Act……………….. The normal rule which governs civil proceedings is that a fact is said to be established if it is proved by preponderance of probabilities. Under s. 3 of the Evidence Act a act is said to be. proved when the court either believes it to exist or if considers its existence so probable that a prudent man ought, in the circumstances, to act upon the supposition that it exists. The first step in this process to fix the probabilities. the second to weigh them. The impossible is weeded out in the first stage, the improbable in the second. Within the wide range, of probabilities the Court has often a difficult choice to make but it is this choice which ultimately determines where the preponderance of probabilities lies. Important issues like the status of parties demand closer scrutiny than those like the loan on a promissory note. Proof beyond reasonable doubt is proof by a higher standard which generally governs criminal trials or trials involving enquiries into issues of quasi-criminal nature. ……………. The enquiry, therefore, has to be whether the conduct charged 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. ………………. The apprehension of the petitioner that it will be harmful or injurious to live with the other party has to be reasonable. It is, however, wrong to import the concept of a reasonable man as known to the law of negligence for judging matrimonial relations. The question is not whether the conduct would be cruel to a reasonable person or a person of average or normal sensibilities but whether it would have that effect on the aggrieved spouse. That which may be cruel to one person may be laughed off by another and what may not be cruel to an individual under one set of circumstances may be extreme cruelty under another set of circumstances. The Court has to deal not with an ideal husband and an ideal wife but with the particular man and woman before it. …………. Acts like the tearing of the Mangal Sutra, locking out the husband when he is due to arrive from the office, rubbing of chilly powder on the tongue of an infant child, beating a child mercilessly while in high fever and switching on the light at night and sitting by the bedside of the husband merely to nag him are acts which tend to destroy the legitimate ends and objects of matrimony. The conduct of wife amounts to cruelty……………. The threat that she would put an end to her own life or that she will set the house on fire, the threat that she will make the husband lose his job and have the matter published in newspapers and the persistent abuses and insults hurled at the husband and his parents are all of so grave an order as to ‘imperil the appellant’s sense of personal safety, mental happiness, job satisfaction and reputation. …………….
32. WHEN NO SERIOUS VIOLENCE IS THERE:- SUMAN KAPUR VS SUDHIR KAPUR 2008(14 ) SCALE 404 Now, it is well-settled that the expression `cruelty’ includes both (i) physical cruelty; and (ii) mental cruelty. The parties in this connection, invited our attention to English as well as Indian authorities. We will refer to some of them. MENTAL CRUELTY :- 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 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”.
33. WHEN NO SUBSTANTIAL CRUELTY ELICITED:- IN SHOBHA RANI V. MADHUKAR REDDI, (1988) 1 SCC 105,:- 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 takinginto 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. 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.
34. IT IS MUTUAL TRUST:- CHETAN DASS V. KAMLA DEVI, (2001) 4 SCC 250, stated; “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”.
35. CRUELTY DEFINED BY SC:- IN SAMAR GHOSH V. JAYA GHOSH, (2007) 4 SCC 511, SUPREME Court held; Human mind is extremely complex and human behaviour is equally complicated. Similarly human ingenuity has no bound, therefore, to assimilate the entire human behaviour in one definition is almost impossible. What is cruelty in one case may not amount to cruelty in other case. The concept of cruelty differs from person to person depending upon his upbringing, level of sensitivity, educational, family and cultural background, financial position, social status, customs, traditions, religious beliefs, human values and their value system. “No uniform standard can ever be laid down for guidance, yet we deem it appropriate to enumerate some instances of human behavior 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.
(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”.
40. COMPLAINT ONLY TO HARASS:- SUPREME COURT: PREETI GUPTA & ANOTHER VS STATE OF JHARKHAND & ANOTHER CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1512 OF 2010 (AUGUST 13, 2010) DALVEER BHANDARI, J. & K.S. RADHAKRISHNAN, J. We have very carefully considered the averments of the complaint and the statements of all the witnesses recorded at the time of the filing of the complaint. There are no specific allegations against the appellants in the complaint and none of the witnesses have alleged any role of both the appellants. ……………….They have never visited the place where the alleged incident had taken place. They had never lived with respondent no.2 and her husband. Their implication in the complaint is meant to harass and humiliate the husband’s relatives. This seems to be the only basis to file this complaint against the appellants. Permitting the complainant to pursue this complaint would be an abuse of the process of law…………….It is a matter of common experience that most of these complaints under section 498-A IPC are filed in the heat of the moment over trivial issues without proper deliberations. We come across a large number of such complaints which are not even bona fide and are filed with oblique motive. At the same time, rapid increase in the number of genuine cases of dowry harassment are also a matter of serious concern. The learned members of the Bar have enormous social responsibility and obligation to ensure that the social fiber of family life is not ruined or demolished. They must ensure that exaggerated versions of small incidents should not be reflected in the criminal complaints. Majority of the complaints are filed either on their advice or with their concurrence. The learned members of the Bar who belong to a noble profession must maintain its noble traditions and should treat every complaint under section 498-A as a basic human problem and must make serious endeavour to help the parties in arriving at an amicable resolution of that human problem. They must discharge their duties to the best of their abilities to ensure that social fiber, peace and tranquility of the society remains intact. The members of the Bar should also ensure that one complaint should not lead to multiple cases.…………………….The allegations of the complaint are required to be scrutinized with great care and circumspection………………….It is also a matter of common knowledge that exaggerated versions of the incident are reflected in a large number of complaints. The tendency of over implication is also reflected in a very large number of cases.
43. FILING FALSE COMPLAINTS:- G.V.N.KAMESWARA RAO V. G.JABILLI, REPORTED IN (2002)2 SCC 296, AIR 2002 SC 576, had clearly held that filing of the false police complaint results in loss of reputation and standing in society at the instance of one’s spouse, and that amount to mental cruelty and the traumatic experience which the husband had to undergo on account of the allegations which could not be proved certainly results in mental cruelty to the husband by the wife.
44. WHAT PERSONAL LAW APPLICABLE TO CHRISTIANS SAY:- The Indian Divorce Act, 1869 was enacted to amend the law relating to persons professing the Christian religion and confer upon certain courts the jurisdiction on matrimonial matters. Even prior to the enactment of the Indian Divorce Act, 1869, the High Courts in India exercised jurisdiction in matrimonial matters under the enabling provisions of the High Courts Act and the provisions of the Letters Patent establishing the High Court. Under the Act, jurisdiction was concurrently conferred on the High Court as well as the District Court in matrimonial matters. The Act also contained certain provisions which restricted the grounds on which a Christian woman could seek dissolution of marriage. Some of the High Courts struck down these restrictive provisions as discriminative and hit by Article 14 of the Constitution of India. The Law Commission of India in its 164th Report inter alia recommended that Parliament may enact a comprehensive law governing marriage and divorce and other allied aspects applicable to Christians in India. The Commission also highlighted the difficulties faced and inadequacies in the Indian Divorce Act as brought to light by several judgments of the High Courts. Since there was no consensus amongst the members of the Christian community on the proposal for unified law on marriage and divorce, Parliament thought it fit to make certain amendments is the Indian Divorce Act to remove the glaring features of discrimination brought to light. The Indian Divorce (Amendment) Act, 2001, (Act No. 51 of 2001) was enacted by Parliament for this purpose and brought into force from 3rd October, 2001. The amending Act of 2001 has changed the title of the Act from ‘Indian Divorce Act’ to ‘Divorce Act’. Prior to the coming into force of this amending Act, the High Court and the District Court had concurrent jurisdiction to entertain petitions for dissolution of marriage under Section 10 on the grounds specified therein, for pronouncing a decree of nullity under Section 18 on the grounds specified in Section 19, for making a decree for judicial separation under Section 23, for ordering permanent alimony after making the decree absolute declaring a marriage to be dissolved under Section 37, to enquire into antenuptial and post-nuptial settlement under Section 40, to make orders to the custody of children after a decree for dissolution or nullity under Section 43, to make orders with regard to the custody, maintenance and education of minor children under Section 44 after a decree of dissolution or nullity of marriage has been passed. Section 4 of the amended Act declares that the jurisdiction now exercised by the High Courts in respect of divorce a mensa et toro and in all other causes, suits and matrimonial matters can be exercised by such Courts and by the District Courts subject to the provisions of the Act. Section6 of the Act provides that all suits and proceedings in cases and matters matrimonial when the Act came into operation would have to be dealt with and decided by the High Court, so far as may be, as if they had been originally instituted under this Act. Section 8 gave the High Court extra ordinary jurisdiction in appropriate cases to remove and try and determine originally any suit or proceeding instituted under the Act in the District Court within the limits of the jurisdiction of the High Court. It also had the power to transfer such suits or proceedings from one District Court to another. Section 9 empowers the High Court upon a reference to decide a question of law. As a result of the coming into force of the Family Courts Act, 1984, the jurisdiction of the District Court to entertain the matrimonial causes has been taken away. Section 20 of the Family Court Act, 1984 provides that the provisions of the said Act would have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than the said Act. Section 7 of the Family Courts Act vests exclusive jurisdiction in the Family Court, wherever it has been established, and declares it to be a District Court for the purpose of exercising matrimonial jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of the Family Court is delineated in Section 7 of the Family Court Act, 1984 in respect of suits and proceedings of the type specified in Clauses (a) to (g) of the Explanation to Section 7(1). Section 8 of the Family Courts Act, 1984 provides that where a Family Court has been established in any area, no District Court or any subordinate civil court in relation to such area shall have or exercise any jurisdiction in respect of any suit or proceeding of the nature referred to in the Explanation to Section 7(1). Sub-section (c) of Section 8 provides that every suit or proceeding of the nature referred to in the Explanation to Section 7(1), which is pending before the District Court or Courts subordinate thereto, shall stand transferred to the Family Court on the day on which it is established. The combined effect of the Act No. 51 of 2001 read with the provisions of Ss. 20, 7 and 8 of the Family Courts Act, 1984, is that, in the areas in which Family Courts have been established, the original jurisdiction in matters arising under the Divorce Act, 2001, would vest exclusively with the Family Courts. In areas where no Family Courts have been established, such jurisdiction would lie with the District Court.
READ Whether mere non-sending of wife to her parental home amounts to cruelty U/S 498A of IPC?
45. TRIAL COURT IS REQUIRED TO CONSIDER THE TRUTH OF THE STATEMENTS MADE IN THE APPLICATION:- SMT. JAYANTI MUNJET VS ASIT KUMAR MOHANTY AIR 1988 ORI 195 Under Section 36 wife alone has the right to file an application. Principle of natural justice has been reflected in the section itself which requires the copy of the application to be served on the husband. Trial Court is required to consider the truth of the statements made in the application and thereafter, on its findings shall make such order on the husband as it may deem just for payment of alimony to the wife, pending disposal of the suit. In the proviso clear restriction has been made that such pendente lite alimony shall not exceed one-fifth of the husband’s average net income for the three years next preceding the date of the order. Thus, the Court considering such application is to determine the net income for three years and on the facts and circumstances of each case shall determine the quantum of alimony which shall not exceed one-fifth of the average thereof.
46. IN FIXING THE QUANTUM OF MAINTENANCE, THE COURT WILL HAVE TO GIVE DUE WEIGHT TO ALL THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES, THE MEANS OF BOTH PARTIES OR THE LACK OF IT, PAST LIFE OF THE PARTIES AND THEIR FAMILIES THEIR MODE OF LIVING AND THE NEEDS OF THE WIFE:- D. THANKARAJ VS SMT. M.C. PUSHPA ROSE AIR 1986 KER 23 Grant of alimony pendente lite is within the judicial discretion of the matrimonial Court. Question of ordering such payment depends on consideration of all the relevant circumstances including the status and mode of life of the parties, their means and the surrounding circumstances. Where it is shown that the wife has no means at all or that her income is not sufficient for her sustenance, it is open to the Court to award alimony pendente lite. Ordinarily, where it is shown that the wife has no means of her own or that her means are inadequate to meet her needs and where the husband has the capacity and ability to provide maintenance, the matrimonial Court will pass. an order in favour of the wife, ………… In fixing the quantum of maintenance, the Court will have to give due weight to all the facts and circumstances, the means of both parties or the lack of it, past life of the parties and their families their mode of living and the needs of the wife………. What Section 36 of the Act contemplates is payment of alimony to the wife. Naturally, this must depend on the needs of the wife, the extent to which she is able to meet the needs out of her own resources and the means of the husband. Law, however, prescribes a ceiling for the quantum. Ceiling is one-fifth of the husband’s average net income for three years next preceding the date of the order. Naturally, an assessment of net income is necessary for determining the quantum of alimony. But it is more relevant in seeing that the quantum does not exceed the ceiling……………. “Net income” would normally mean total income derived less the cost of collection and other compulsory payments such as Income-tax etc. It does not mean net income after giving deduction for all the expenses incurred by the husband. Expenses which are to be deducted must have some relation or connection with the source of income. In the case of a salaried employee, he may be legally compelled to pay tax or contribution to Provident Fund etc. In such a case, there is a legal obligation to make this payment in relation to the income he derives from the job which secures him the salary. Naturally, deductions have to be given for these outgoing in assessing the net income. At the same time, it is open to a salaried employee to contribute more to the Provident Fund than what he is required to do. That is purely a matter of option for him. He may contribute more by way of saving. He might have borrowed moneys for his own purposes and may have to make repayments in lump or instalments. It is only for the purpose of easy collection that arrangements are made for deduction at the source. They cannot be equated with compulsory deductions like Income-tax or contribution to compulsory Provident Fund. They must be treated as voluntary payments made in discharge of voluntary loans. They cannot be treated as deductions over which he has no control of any kind. It is only such deductions which can be taken note of. Otherwise, it would be easy for any husband to opt to allow more deductions than warranted and thereby defeat the claim of his wife. In these circumstances, it is clear that deduction can be made only in regard to compulsory outgoings such as Income-tax or compulsory Provident Fund. Optional deductions cannot be taken into consideration in assessing the net income.
47. TO DETERMINE MAINTENANCE NECESSARY DEDUCTIONS:- IN PREETI V. RAVIND KR. SHARMA AIR 1979 ALL 29, also a case arising under the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, it was held that necessary expenses connected with the job or business which have to be made so that the job or business may continue, have to be given deduction to. If a party has to pay Insurance, Provident Fund or Income-tax, they are necessary expenses which must be deducted.
49. MERE DOMESTIC QUARELLS IS NOT CRUELTY:- In Yashoda Bai v. K.B. Katavakar, AIR 1982 Karnataka 368, it has been held by a Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court that mere domestic quarrels on account of the presence of the mother- in-law in the family would not constitute mental cruelty and that cruelty must constitute threat of danger to the person or life of the person on whom cruelty is practised and if that element of threat to the life or person is absent, it cannot be the cruelty, much less mental cruelty.
50. FALSE CASE FILING IS CRUELTY:- In the case of Rajinder Bhardwaj v. Mrs. Anita, AIR 1993 Delhi 135, it was held that filing of false and scandulous cases by one spouse against other amounts to cruelty.
51. FALSE THREATS OF COMPLAINTS CRUELTY:- In the case of Rama Kant v. Mohinder Laxmidas, AIR 1996 Pb. and Hy. 98: , it was held by Hon’ble High Court that behaviour of wife in matrimonial home not cordial, she was disrespectful towards her in-laws; her threats and attempt to commit suicide, her act of lodging false complaints against husband are incidents of her cruel behaviour towards husband making it impossible for him to live peacefully with her in conjugal home. It was held that grant of divorce on ground of cruelty on part of wife was not illegal.
52. UNFOUND ALLEGATIONS:- Manjit Kaur vs Avtar Singh 2000(2) Marriage & Divorce Judicial Reports 351, (Punjab and haryana HC) 2002(1) Civil Court Cases 268 (P&H) It has been held by repeatedly by the Hon’ble Supreme Court as well as by this Hon’ble High Court that unfounded allegations of adultery consists of cruelty. The marriage is a trust between the male and female partner and if irresponsible allegations are levelled by the spouse against each other, it will cause mental cruelty of the worst kind.
54. MENTAL CRUELTY WITH FALSE IMPUTATIONS:- Shivakumar vs Premavathi AIR 2004 Kant 146, 2004 (1) KarLJ 194:- It is a well-established general principle that if any imputation against the character of any spouse is alleged without any foundation such reckless and baseless allegations of illicit relationship amounts to mental cruelty and will constitute a valid and sufficient justification for the spouse to stay away from the other.
56. WHEN MOTIVATED FALSE HOOD IS SPOKEN IN AVERRMENTS:- Chandra Shashi v. Anil Kumar Verma, (1995) 1 SCC 421, held that nobody should be permitted to indulge in immoral acts like perjury, prevarication and motivated falsehoods in the judicial proceedings and if someone does so, it must be dealt with appropriately. In case the recourse to a false plea is taken with an oblique motive, it would definitely hinder, hamper or impede the flow of justice and prevent the courts from performing their legal duties.
57. If the application is allowed petitioner may drag on the proceedings and hence for speedy justice the matter may be heard on merits after suitable enquiry. If the application is allowed grave injustice and injury will be caused to the 1st respondent. Since petitioner is happily living with her father’s house and no immediate economic assistance is needed on the grounds of her own drawbacks in the averments of her petition.
58. In view of settled law as explained by our own high court, the petitioner has to drop other respondent 2 to 4 from the case.
59. The likelihood of creating further complications on petitioners false averments through interim order is already explained in the objections and it may be read as part and parcel of this argument. I deeply pray your Honour to consider all the legal aspects either for interim order or for order on merits in the ends of justice.
Wherefore in view of above facts and laid down law, this respondent humbly prays this Hon’ble court to keep pending the Interim application and direct petitioner to prove her case on merits to provide any relief as claimed for, by substantially proving her allegations in the ends of justice.

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