SHEEJA M P Vs. RONNIE GEORGE THOMAS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THERE is a delay of 8 days in preferring this appeal. Being satisfied with the cause shown by the appellant, the delay is condoned and IA -I/2012 is accordingly allowed. By consent of the parties, the appeal is taken up for final hearing.

(2.) THE appellant, being not satisfied with the judgment and decree dated 16 -4 -2012 passed by the Judge, Family Court, Mangalore, in MC No 103 of 2011 (Old MC No 21 of 2010), has filed this appeal.

(3.) THE appellant married the respondent under the provisions of the Special Marriages Act, 1984 [for short, the Act]. The appellant is a Hindu and the respondent is a Christian. Their marriage was solemnized on 22 -12 -2005 and registered before the Registrar of Marriages, K R Puram sub -registrar, Bangalore. The parents of the respondents are from Tellicheri in Kerala. The appellant was working as a music teacher. According to her, the respondent requested her to teach him guitar and she was conducting classes in the hospital of mother of respondent at Tellichery. Later, he offered to marry her. In spite of objections from the appellant's family, she married the respondent. Prior to his marriage with the appellant, the respondent had already married and he had taken divorce from the first wife. After the marriage, the appellant learnt about the bad habits of respondent, and as she could not prolong well with the respondent and therefore she filed a petition seeking a decree of divorce against the respondent on the ground of cruelty. She had also sought for grant of permanent alimony.