Amol Rattan Singh, J. - (1.) The appellant, Harjinder Singh, seeks by way of this appeal, setting aside of the decree of divorce, dated 03.09.2014, granted by the Additional District Judge, Jalandhar, pursuant to his judgment of even date, accepting the petition filed by the respondent herein, under Sec. 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, seeking dissolution of her marriage with the appellant.
(2.) As per the petition filed before the learned District Judge, Jalandhar, the respondent and the appellant were married to each other as per Sikh religious rites, on 15.04.2001 at the Gupta Palace, Taajpur, Jalandhar. The status of the respondent, Sunita Heer, as per her petition, is shown to be unmarried on the date that she is stated to have married the appellant and, surprisingly, even on the date of filing of the petition, she showed herself to be unmarried but showed the appellant to be married, (possibly due to a typographical error). However, as regards the appellant, he is also shown in the petition to be unmarried, prior to his marriage to the respondent.
(3.) The appellant and the respondent (hereinafter referred to collectively, when necessary, as the parties) are stated to have lived together as husband and wife and out of this wedlock, a female child was born on 14.06.2003, who at the time of filing of the petition before the learned District Judge, was living with the respondent. It was further contended in the petition that the behaviour of the present appellant and his family members towards the present respondent became very cruel, as they were dissatisfied with the amount of dowry brought by her. It was further alleged that the appellant was a drunkard and drug addict, who did no work and upon coming home every night in a drunken condition, used to beat up the respondent. Allegations of a demand of Rs. 3,00,000/ - as dowry were also made in the petition, with a further allegation that often the respondent was not even given food and had to sleep on an empty stomach. Even when she became pregnant, allegedly she was not provided proper medical facilities or diet, with the beatings still continuing. The birth of a female child is further stated to have been a cause of cruelty to the respondent, at the hands of the appellant and his family.;