Saroj Rani vs Sudarshan Kumar (1984)
Citation: AIR 1984 SC 1562
Relevant Articles:
Section 13(1)(i) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955: Divorce on grounds of cruelty.
Facts:
Saroj Rani filed for divorce from her husband, Sudarshan Kumar, on the grounds of cruelty. During their marriage, Sudarshan subjected Saroj to frequent physical and mental torture. Saroj's claims of cruelty included physical assault and verbal humiliation, which significantly impacted her emotional well-being. Despite several attempts to reconcile, Sudarshan’s cruel conduct continued, and Saroj felt that it was impossible to continue living with him. She argued that her husband's actions had completely broken down the marital relationship and that no attempt at reconciliation could restore it.
Issues:
Whether the wife’s allegations of cruelty were substantiated by evidence.
Whether the husband’s actions constituted cruelty under the Hindu Marriage Act, warranting the dissolution of the marriage.
Judgment:
The Court ruled in favor of Saroj Rani, granting her divorce on the grounds of cruelty. The Court found that the husband’s repeated physical and mental abuse was sufficient to establish cruelty under Section 13(1)(i) of the Hindu Marriage Act. It further emphasized that when cruelty makes life unbearable for one spouse, and reconciliation efforts fail, the marriage should be dissolved to ensure the well-being of the abused party.
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