M ABRAHAM BABU Vs. B SAROJINI DEVI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) OP. No. 17 of 1983 on the file of the District Judge, Kurnool, filed by the petitioner-wife, who is the respondent in this appeal, contains allegations that the respondent-husband, appellant herein, was not maintaining the family and it was she alone, who was working as a teacher and earning some money from private tutions, was looking after the family. The wife further alleges that the husband was leading a life of an idler, addicted to drinks and other vices. The husband is said to have beaten the wife mercilessly in public street when she refused to give him any money for his drinking purposes. She also alleged adultery against the husband with all sorts of women. Therefore, the petition for dissolution of marriage under sec. 10 of the Indian Divorce Act was filed by the wife on the ground of adultery coupled with cruelty and desertion.

(2.) It may be mentioned here that the parties are Indian Christians and the application is filed by the wife for the dissolution of the marriage on the grounds briefly stated above.

(3.) In the counter filed on behalf of the respondent-husband the allegations levelled against him are flatly denied. The husband projects himself as the devoted parent who was making all efforts to meet the needs of the family. It is significant to note that in this counter the respondent-husband has stated that the petitioner had been treating the respondent in a disrespectful manner keeping one Babu in the house under the guise of paying guest. The other allegations made by the husband are that the wife is not carrying out her duties cast on her and that she is oblivion of providing comfort to the husband.