RISHIKESH SHARMA v. SAROJ SHARMA

Case Details & Bench

Court: High Court
Hon'ble Judges: Dr. A. R. Lakshmanan
Tarun Chatterjee
Judgment Date: 2006-11-21
Court Decision / Holding: There will be a decree of dissolution of marriage in favour of the husband. The appeal is allowed.
Final Disposition: Appeal allowed.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

Rishikesh Sharma

Respondents

Saroj Sharma

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

• A.K. Chitale; Niraj Shanna; Vikrant Singh Sais

Counsels for Respondents

• S.S Dahiya; K.K. Said; M.S. Bakshi; L.K. Dahiya; Debasis Mishra

Case Synopsis & Summary

The appeal arises from a petition for dissolution of marriage filed in 1989 by the husband under Section 28 of the Hindu Marriage Act on the ground of mental cruelty and desertion, after years of separation beginning in 1981. The couple married in 1972 and had a daughter in 1975. The trial court dismissed the petition, and the High Court also dismissed the first appeal. The record shows a long history of litigation, including the wife repeatedly filing criminal proceedings against the husband, which the courts did not substantiate. By 2006 both parties were in their late forties to sixties, living separately and working, having spent about 49 years apart. The Supreme Court held that the marriage is irretrievably broken down with no realistic prospect of reconciliation, and that there is no useful purpose in compelling the parties to live together after such prolonged estrangement and litigation. The wife had expressed a willingness to live with the husband, but the court found that this desire was not genuine at this late stage and noted the husband’s offer to pay a lump-sum permanent alimony, which was declined. Consequently, the Court allowed the appeal and granted a decree of dissolution of marriage in favour of the husband, enabling both parties to move forward peacefully in their remaining years.

Provisions of Law Cited

Hindu Marriage Act; Section 28

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

Irretrievable breakdown of marriage (no possibility of reconciliation)
No useful purpose would be served by compelling cohabitation where parties have lived separately for decades; best course is dissolution in such circumstances.

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The appellant contends that the marriage has irretrievably broken down; after 49 years of separation and ongoing litigation there is no possibility of reconciliation. He asserts that the wife repeatedly filing criminal cases against him is unsustainable and that, although willing to pay a lump-sum permanent alimony, the wife rejected it; her stated willingness to live with him now is not genuine. The couple’s long history of litigation and the absence of any reasonable prospect of cohabitation justify a decree of divorce so the parties can live out their remaining years in peace. He argues that the High Court erred in denying jurisdiction under Section 28 and that compelling cohabitation would serve no useful purpose.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondent contends that the marriage may still subsist and that reconciliation could be possible; she disputes the grounds for dissolution and argues against a decree of divorce. She notes the long period of separation but asserts that dissolution should not be granted on speculative grounds and emphasizes the need to preserve the marriage if reconciliation is feasible. She also maintains that the allegations of repeated criminal proceedings are unfounded or unproven in the context of the case.

Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

. ' # RISHIKESH SHARMA _v._ # SAROJ SHARMA NOVEMBER21, 2006 # [DR. AR. LAKSHMANAN AND TARUN CHATTERJEE, JJ.] _Hindu Law:_ _Hindu Marriage Act; Section 28:_ c _Husband filing petition for dissolution of marriage on ground of mental cruelty and desertion-Dismissed by trial Court-First appeal dismissed by High Court-On appeal, Held: Both the husband and the wife living separately and working for last 49 years-Wife repeatedly filing criminal cases against her husband-Only child born out of the wedlock has already been given in_ D _marriage-Marriage irretrievably broken down with no possibility of the parties living together again-No useful purpose would be served by compelling both the parties to live together as they have lost valuable part of life in litigation-Under the circumstances, it would be appropriate to grant decree of divorce so that they live peacefully remaining part of their life-Decree of dissolution of marriage granted in favour of the husband_ E Appellant and respondent got married according to the Hindu rites and customs in the year 1972. After three years of marriage a daughter was born out of the wedlock. Because of the misunderstanding between them the respondent-wife started living separately from her husband from the year 1981 onwards and also filed several criminal proceedings against her husband. In the year 1989, the husband filed a petition for a decree of dissolution of marriage on the ground of mental cruelty and the respondent having deserted him. Trial Court dis:nissed the petition. The appeal filed by the husband under Section 28 of the Hindu Marriage Act was dismissed by the High Court. Hence the present appeal. F G Allowing the appeal, the Court HELD:l.1. In the instant case the marriage is irretrievably broken down with no possibility of the parties living together again. Both the parties have H 245 246 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 9 S.C.R. A crossed 49 years and living separately and working. (247-D-El 1.2. There being a history of litigation with respondent-wife repeatedly filing criminal cases against her husband, the appellant which could not be substantiated as found by the Courts. This apart, only child born in the wedlock in 1975 has already been given in marriage. Under such B circumstances, the High Court was not justified in refusing to exercise its jurisdiction in favour of the appellant. (247-E-F) 1.3. However, it will not be possible for the parties to live together and there is no purpose in compelling both the parties to live together. Therefore the best course, in the facts and circumstances of the case, is to dissolve the C marriage by passing a decree of divorce so that the parties who are litigating since 1981 and have lost valuable part of life can live peacefully in remaining part of their life. (247-G-H; 248-A) 2. Though, the husband was ready and willing to pay lumpsum amount D by way of permanent alimony to the wife, but the wife was not willing to accept the same, however, she has expressed her willingness to live with her husband. Her desire to live with her husband at this stage and at this distance of time is not genuine. Therefore, the suggestion made by the wife is not accepted. In the result, the appeal filed by the husband stands allowed. There will be a decree of dissolution of marriage in favour of the husband. [248-B-CI .E CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 5129 of2006. From the Judgment and Order dated 19.4.2005 of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Bench at Gwalior in F.A. No. 14of1999. F A.K. Chitale, Niraj Shanna and Vikrant Singh Sais for the Appellant. S.S Dahiya, K.K. Said, M.S. Bakshi, L.K. Dahiya and Debasis Mishra for the Respondent. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by ## G ## DR. AR. LAKSHMANAN, J. Leave granted. The husband is the appellant before us. The respondent is his wife. They got married according to the Hindu rites and customs in the year 1972. After three years of marriage a daughter was born of the wedlock. Because H of the misunderstanding between them the respondent started living separately RISHIKESH SHARMA _v._ SAROJ SHARMA [LAKSHMANAN, J.] 247 from her husband from the year 1981_ onwards and is working in the Social Forestry Department. The respondent also filed several criminal proceedings against her husband with which we are not concerned in this appeal. In the year 1989 the appellant filed a petition for a decree of dissolution of marriage on the ground of mental cruelty and the respondent having deserted him without any reasonable cause. The District Judge, Gwalior, B dismissed the petition filed by the husband for dissolution of the marriage. The Appellant filed a first appeal in the High Court under Sec. 28 of the Hindu Marriage Act. The High Court also dismissed the appeal of the appellant. The appellant has therefore questioned the correctness of the order passed by the High Court in the above appeal. C We heard Mr. A.K. Chitale, learned senior counsel and Mr. S.S.Dahiya, learned counsel for the respondent and perused the judgment passed by both the trial court and also of the High court. It is not in dispute that the respondent is living separately from the year 1981. Though the finding has been rendered by the High Court that the wife last resided with her husband D up to 25.3.1989, the said finding according to the learned counsel for the appellant is not correct. In view of the several litigations between the parties it is not possible for her to prosecute criminal case against the husband and at the same time continue to reside with her husband. In the instant case the marriage is irretrievably broken down with no possibility of the parties living together again. Both the parties have crossed 49 years and living separately E and working independently since 1981. There being a history oflitigation with respondent-wife repeatedly filing criminal cases against the appellant which could not be substantiated as found by the Courts. This apart, only child born in the wedlock in 1975 has already been given in marriage. Under such circumstances the High Court was not justified in refusing to exercise its _p_ jurisdiction in favour of the appellant. This apart, the wife also has made certain allegations against her husband, that the husband has already remarried and is living with another lady as stated by her in the written statement. The High Court also has not considered the allegations made by the respondent which have been repeatedly made and repeatedly found baseless by the courts. G In our opinion it will not be possible for the parties to live together and therefore there is no purpose in compelling both the parties to live together. Therefore the best course in our opinion is to dissolve the marriage by passing a decree of divorce so that the parties who are litigating since 1981 H 248 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 9 S.C.R. - A and have lost valuable part of life can live peacefully in remaining part of their life. During the last hearing both the husband and wife were present in Court. Husband was ready and willing to pay lumpsum by way of permanent alimony to the wife. The wife was not willing to accept the lumpsum but B however expressed her willingness to live with her husband. We are of the opinion that her desire to live with her husband at this stage and at this distance of time is not genuine. Therefore, we are not accepting this suggestion made by the wife and reject the same. - C In the result, the appeal filed by the husband stands allowed. There will be a decree of dissolution of marriage in favour of the husband. No costs. S.K.S. Appeal allowed.