K BALAMURUGAN Vs. N SASIKALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By this appeal, the appellant / husband has questioned the legality and propriety of the order and decree dated 24.10.2017 passed by the VI Additional Principal Judge, Family Court, Chennai, in O.P.No.147 of 2015, dismissing the petition filed by him under Section 13(1)(i) and 13(1) (i-a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 for dissolution of the marriage solemnized between him and the respondent / wife on 02.09.2013.

(2.) The case of the appellant / husband before the trial Court is that the marriage between the parties was solemnized on 02.09.2013 at Sree Sowmya Damodara Perumal Thirukovil, Villivakkam, Chennai- 600 049, as per the Hindu rites and customs. At the time of marriage, both the parties were working in Raj TV. Initially, there were some disputes between them, due to which, they mutually decided to part ways. However, after some time, the respondent / wife compelled the appellant / husband to marry her. On one occasion, she came to his home with her relatives and a lawyer and threatened him to marry her, failing which, she would lodge a false complaint against the appellant/ husband and his parents. Thereafter, the respondent / wife lodged a complaint to the Commissioner of Police, due to which, the appellant / husband had no other option except to marry her. After the marriage, they started their married life at the residence of the appellant / husband. Right from the beginning, the respondent / wife showed disrespect towards the parents and other family members of the appellant / husband, besides constantly abusing the appellant / husband and his parents and frequently threatened that she will file false complaints of dowry harassment and cruelty against them. She further threatened that she will commit suicide, with a letter stating that the appellant /husband and his parents are responsible for her death. Further, the respondent / wife pressurized the appellant / husband to come away from his parents, due to which, the appellant / husband took a house on rent and both of them were living at a rented premises, where, her activities went from bad to worse and she developed close relations with several men and was engaging herself in telephonic conversations and messaging with them for several hours even till midnight. When the same was questioned, she abused the appellant / husband and threatened him that she would file false complaints of domestic violence and dowry harassment against him. According to the appellant / husband, the respondent / wife is in adulterous life and is engaged in illicit relationships with several other men. Hence, the appellant / husband has filed OP.No.147/2015 seeking divorce.

(3.) Denying the allegations made in the aforesaid petition, the respondent / wife filed a detailed counter affidavit, wherein, it is stated that only the appellant / husband had fallen in love with her and he continuously approached and urged her to marry him. According to her, the appellant / husband is a big shot and a highly influential person in the society and he exerted continuous pressure and force on her to marry him. In fact, with the help of anti-social elements, he threatened the respondent/ wife to marry him. In order to escape from the threats exerted on the respondent / wife, she resigned her job in Raj TV. Since the appellant / husband continuously pressurised the respondent /wife to marry him, the respondent / wife lodged a police complaint, but it ended in vain. Ultimately, she was forced to marry the appellant / husband on 2.9.2013. After completion of wedding ceremony, the matrimonial home was set up by the parents of the appellant / husband in their house. The appellant / husband and his parents started torturing the respondent / wife to the maximum extent of cruelty, by refusing to provide even basic needs i.e., food, clothes, etc. It is further stated therein that since the respondent / wife was working in the media, she had to accompany her unit members to go for outdoor shooting and she used to do so, only after obtaining consent from the parents of the appellant / husband. However, with an ulterior motive and mala fide intention, the appellant/ husband has included one actor by name Veera in this case, as an adulterator. She further stated that her attempt to reunion with the appellant / husband ended in vain. Thus, she sought dismissal of the divorce petition.