R.L.ANAND, J. - (1.) THIS is a husband's appeal and has been directed against the judgment and decree dated 15.2.1997 passed by Addl. District Judge, Ambala, who dismissed the petition of Sat Pal Singh appellant under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act (hereinafter called 'the Act') seeking dissolution of marriage by way of decree of divorce.
(2.) THE appellant filed a petition under Section 13 of the Act against his wife Smt. Baljeet Kaur by inter alia pleading and alleging that the marriage between the parties was solemnized on 12.10.1986. They lived as husband and wife and cohabited with each other and out of this wedlock a male child was born on 16.12.1988, who is residing with the respondent-wife. It is alleged by the appellant that the attitude of the respondent-wife towards him and his family members was not proper since very beginning. She never treated them properly and she used to abuse and insult them without any reason off and on. The appellant tried to bring her on the right path but no result. The respondent was always pressing him to live in a separate house from his parent. The appellant is the only son of his parents, who are of old age and it was not possible for him to leave them and that is why he refused to accept the demand of the respondent. Resultantly the behaviour of the respondent became worse. In the month of January, 1987, the respondent went to her parental house along with the jewellary and valuable articles without any reason and then she was brought back with the intervention of Panchayat. For some days she lived peacefully but again she started misbehaving with them. After the birth of male child in the month of December, 1988 she again went to her parental house when the appellant went to bring her back, not only the respondent but her parents insulted him. She was brought back in the month of January, 1989 after lot of persuasion through the intervention of the respectables. She has no love and affection towards the child. Whenever any family friend or relative visited their house, the respondent did not attend them and the preferred to go to the bed room or to leave the house. In the month of November, 1990 the respondent-wife asked him to give Rs. 20,000/- to her sister, but when he showed his inability to lend such a guge amount, the respondent became more furious. After one month of this incident i.e. in the month of December, 1990, Saravjeet Singh, Pritpal Singh alias Manga, brother of the respondents and their friends armed with sticks came to the house of the appellant and attacked him, but he was rescued by the neighbours. This act not only humiliated him but he also felt mentally and physically tortured. In the month of July, 1992, the respondent sent a notice levelling allegations against the appellant which was duly replied by him. As the appellant was always willing to reconcile the matter, a Panchayat was convened in Devi Mandir, Ambala City on 2.8.1992. It was attended by some respectables and it was decided that the parties will live separately from their parents. A compromise was reduced into writing but even thereafter the respondent did not join the company of the appellant. She always believed in muscle power of her brothers. They used to insult the appellant physically. On 21.4.1993, the brother of the respondent namely Pritpal Singh kidnapped the appellant from Model Town, Ambala City near railway fly over and confined him in the room of his house. He also gave fist and slap blows to him. The appellant was rescued in the evening by him family members. The matter was reported to Police Post, Model Town, Ambala City and then Pritpal Singh admitted his guilt and felt sorry in writing. Thereafter the respondent filed a complaint against the appellant and his family members in the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ambala under Sections 406 and 498-A IPC on false and baseless grounds. The appellant and his family members were called and harassed by the police in that case. Thus the respondent has tortured him mentally and physically. It is a broken marriage. Therefore, a decree of divorce has been sought against the respondent mainly on the grounds of cruelty and desertion. Notice of the petition was given to the respondent, who filed the written statement and denied the allegations levelled by the appellant. According to the respondent, the behaviour of the petitioner and his family members was cruel towards her from the very beginning. They were demanding more dowry again and again. She was given beating so many times under one pretext or the other. The respondent used to prepare meals and do all other household work regularly. The appellant and his family members used to ask him to render the accounts about her salary drawn by her before the marriage. They used to keep the whole salary with them even after the marriage. She gave birth to a female child in the year 1987 before the male child but that child expired due to the blows given on her stomach before her birth. The expenses of the medicines and hospital were met by her brothers. The male child was also born in Mission Hospital, Ambala City and all the expenses of delivery were borne by her brothers. When she was to deliver the male child, the appellant left her at the hospital and went to her brothers to meet out the expenses as he was not having any money with him. The mother of the appellant used to give her beating even after the birth of the male child. She was turned out by the appellant from the house. She lived in her parental house for 6/7 months and then was brought back due to the intervention of the respectables. The appellant assured her that he would not misbehave with her. Her family members also paid Rs. 2,500/- for the purpose of gas cylinder and Rs. 5,000/- for the purchase of moped but the lust of the appellant for more money never satisfied. On 2.12.1990, the appellant and his mother asked her to prepare new pillow but in the meantime she had gone to bring milk for the newly born son and came after about 20 minutes. She was to serve the milk to the infant at that time. But due to the delay, the appellant and his mother became furious and they gave beating to her. The appellant went to her parental house and asked them to bring her back. She was turned out of the matrimonial house without any reason. In the month of July, 1992 Harpal Singh Bhatia and others tried to patch up the matter but the appellant and his mother demanded Rs. 50,000/- at that time. They also asked her to sign a bond clearing them from any responsibility even if she dies in their house. Her signatures were also obtained on some blank papers. Even after the compromise on 2.9.1992, the appellant did not take her to her matrimonial house. Rather, he filed a false complaint against her brothers who were harassed by the police and the signatures of her brother Pritpal Singh were obtained by the police. She never demanded Rs. 20,000/- as alleged by the appellant. The allegations of misbehaviour on her part with the friends, relatives and family members of the appellant are denied. It was stated by the respondent that she is still willing to live with the appellant. With these broad defence the respondent made a prayer for the dismissal of the petition.
(3.) FROM the pleadings of the parties, the following issues were framed by the trial Court :- "1. Whether the petitioner was treated with cruelty by the respondent ? OPP 2. Whether the respondent has deserted the petitioner, as alleged ? OPP 3. Relief." ;