Rajiv Narain Raina, J. - (1.) MS . Geeta Luthra, learned Senior counsel appears for the petitioner -wife and Mr. R.S. Kundu appears for the respondent husband on caveat. With the consent of parties, the matter is taken on board for final disposal at the motion stage since it relates to the preliminary point of jurisdiction of the Court.
(2.) HEARD . The petitioner and the respondent were married according to Hindu rites and ceremonies on July 19, 2010 at Delhi. The marriage was solemnized after a courtship of fourteen months. The respondent is an IAS Officer of the Punjab cadre. Soon after the marriage, the husband told the petitioner that he has to join his duty in Punjab by July 21, 2010 and that his wife should stay back temporarily in his native village with her in -laws, that is his parents. Soon after the wedding, on July 20, 2010 the petitioner was taken to her parental home for the pagphera ceremony. By the time the rituals were done; it was late and raining heavily. It is averred that the petitioner's parents had requested the groom to stay on in Delhi and avoid night travel as it was not safe with expensive baggage and jewellery in tow. The respondent was adamant and did not accept this advice. In these circumstances the petitioner visited her in -laws, for the remaining ceremony at the respondent's native village Goria in Jhajjar district, in the State of Haryana.
(3.) UNFORTUNATELY , the marriage turned sour before it effectively began. It is seen from record that both the parties are highly educated people. There are allegations of demands of dowry on the wife's family. It is alleged that the respondent soon after the wedding asked the petitioner's father to purchase land to help his brother to start a factory as he was retiring from the Indian Army and needed to settle down in an avocation. It is alleged that soon after the marriage, the respondent deserted the petitioner never to return to his wife. The marriage turned a non -starter. The petitioner says that she made sincere efforts to save the marriage but met with failure.;