Denial of Sex to Husband for Long Time Without Any Sufficient Cause Amounts to Mental Cruelty

8/11/2019 Denial of Sex to Husband for Long Time Without Any Sufficient Cause Amounts to Mental Cruelty

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REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIACIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO. 9036 OF 2014(Arii!" #$% #& S.L.P.(' N#.2)0)6 #& 2012

VIDHYA VISWANATHAN ... APPELLANT

VERSUS

KARTIK BALAKRISHNAN RESPONDENT

J U D * M E N T

PRAFULLA C.PANT+J.

1. Leave granted.

2. T!" a##ea$ !" d!re%ted aga!n"t te &'dg(ent and )rder dated

1*.2.2+12 #a""ed !n ,-A N).2/2 )0 2+11 te H!g ,)'rt

)0 3'd!%at're at -adra" 4ere te "a!d ,)'rt a" a$$)4ed te


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a##ea$ 0!$ed te '"and 'nder Se%t!)n 15 )0 6a(!$ ,)'rt"

A%t7 15/7 and d!"")$ved te (arr!age et4een te #art!e".

*. Br!e0 0a%t" )0 te %a"e are tat te a##e$$ant7 V!da

V!"4anatan g)t (arr!ed t) te re"#)ndent7 Kart!8

Ba$a8r!"nan )n /.9.2++: !n ,enna! 0)$$)4!ng te H!nd' r!te".

A0ter te (arr!age7 te %)'#$e 4ent t) L)nd)n 4ere te

re"#)ndent ;'"and< 4a" 4)r8!ng7 and te $!ved tere 0)r

")(e e!gt ()nt". In De%e(er7 2++:7 te a##e$$ant and te

re"#)ndent %a(e a%8 t) Ind!a. H)4ever7 te a##e$$ant 4ent

a%8 t) Eng$and a$$ a$)ne7 and !" 4!0e d!d n)t g) tere t)'g

er '"and ad #'r%a"ed a ret'rn t!%8et 0)r er. On

1*.5.2++7 te '"and 0!$ed a #et!t!)n 'nder Se%t!)n 1* ;1< ;!at t) (e t) ave $'n%. In!t!a$$ t)'gttat t!" 4a" e%a'"e "e 4a" #'t !n a ne4at()"#ere. H)4ever7 I %)'$d n)t rea$!e tatte re"#)ndent 4a" n)t !ntere"ted e!ter !n (

"e$0 )r te (arr!age !t"e$0.

>> >> >> >>

- ... !n"#!te )0 te a)ve )dd t!ng"7 I4a" a$e t) get a v!"a t) UK 0)r tere"#)ndent. I 0'rter "'(!t tat I ad (adee>ten"!ve arrange(ent" 0)r te H)ne ())nt) S%)t$and. Even d'r!ng te H)ne())n7 tere"#)ndent 4a" ver ())d7 e()t!)n$e"" andan)r(a$$ F'!et. I 4a" at $)"" t) 'nder"tanda" t) 4at 4a" )ver!ng ar)'nd !n er (!nd.H)4ever7 I 4a" ver #at!ent$ 4a!t!ng )n te0)nd )#e tat t!ng" 4)'$d e%)(e n)r(a$ !nd'e %)'r"e. H)4ever7 a$$ ( drea(" t) $eada ver a## (arr!ed $!0e 4!t te re"#)ndent4ere "attered te !nt)$era$e eav!)'r )0te re"#)ndent. I 0'rter "'(!t tat a0terret'rn!ng 0r)( S%)t$and t) L)nd)n7 I t))8 te

re"#)ndent t) var!)'" #$a%e" ") a" t) (a8eer t) e%)(e a n)r(a$ 4)(an7 't 4a"ta8en aa%8 er "ar%a"t!% re(ar8" a)'tte L)nd)n %!t !t"e$0. Te re"#)ndent 4a"ver $etarg!%7 d!"!ntere"ted and ")4er!ng$a%8 )0 !ntere"t !n an )0 te event". On$terea0ter7 I "tared t!n8!ng tat te

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re"#)ndent 4a" n)t !ntere"ted !n ")$e(n!!ngte (arr!age !t"e$0.

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9 ..et4een A#r!$7 2++: t) De%e(er2++:7 I %)'$d !n0er tat te re"#)ndent 4a"a$4a" ())d7 tr)4!ng tantr'("7 ")4!ng0a%e" )#en$7 ")4!ng anger and atred!n"'$t!ng (e 4en ( "e$0 and te re"#)ndent4ere a$)ne and !n 0r)nt )ter". Tere"#)ndent rea%ted v!)$ent$ gett!ngaggre""!ve and (a8!ng "ar%a"t re(ar8" )r

$)%8!ng er"e$0 !n te r))( and "t)##edta$8!ng 0)r da" t)geter 4!t)'t an rea")n.Wen I F'e"t!)ned a)'t te "a(e7 tere"#)ndent '"ed t) get even ()re aggre""!veand ")'t "ter!%a$$ and terea0ter 4)'$d"tart %r!ng. T!" eav!)'r e%a(e ()reand ()re 0reF'ent )ver te t!(e and (ade !t!(#)""!$e t) and$e te re"#)ndent d'r!ng"'% v!)$ent )'t'r"t" )0 anger and atred.Te re"#)ndent 4a" t)ta$$ 'na##r)a%a$eand t!" $e0t (e 4!t a dee# "en"e )0 ang'!"and (ater!a$ ag)n. Te att!t'de )0 tere"#)ndent 4a" e%)(!ng 4)r"e da da7re"'$ted !n #'$$!ng )0 te da" 4!t tere"#)ndent e%a(e a n!gt(are.

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10..te re"#)ndent d!d n)t ")4 an!ntent!)n at a$$ !n %)n"'((at!ng te (arr!age.Te re"#)ndent ev!n%ed n) !ntere"t !n av!ng#"!%a$ %)nta%t 4!t (e. A t!(e"7 I ("e$0ad tr!ed t) ave "e>'a$ re$at!)n"!# 4!t tere"#)ndent a" a n)r(a$ '"and 4)'$d d).

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H)4ever7 "!n%e te re"#)ndent ")4ed n)!ntent!)n7 I %)nv!n%ed ("e$0 tat "e 4)'$d(end er 4a". H)4ever7 tere 4a" n)att!t'd!na$ %ange" !n er $!0e.

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13 te re"#)ndent de$!erate$ '"edt) 4a8e (e '# r'de$ ")(et!(e" even8!%8!ng (e 4en I 4a" a"$ee# and '"ed t) a"8(e t) ta$8 t) er "a!ng tat "e 4a" gett!ng)red. W!t)'t (!nd!ng te re"#)ndentG"

a)(!na$e att!t'de7 I 4)'$d tr t) en%)'ragete re"#)ndent a" #)""!$e a" I %)'$d.6'rter7 te re"#)ndent '"ed t) ang eread aga!n"t te 4a$$" )0 te edr))( 0)r n)rea")n and 4en I a"8ed te rea")n tere"#)ndent 4)'$d de$!erate$ re(a!n "!$ent7av!ng (e "#end!ng "$ee#$e"" n!gt". T!"a" %a'"ed great (enta$ ag)n and t)rt're t)(e 4en tere 4a" n) 0a'$t )n (e.

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1,..d'r!ng N)ve(er 2++:7 tere"#)ndent 0e$$ "!%8 4!t !g 0ever. De"#!tete ada(an%7 n)t t) ta8e treat(ent7 I t))8te re"#)ndent t) a $ead!ng "#e%!a$!"t 4)d!agn)"ed tat te re"#)ndent "'00ered 0r)(T'er%'$)"!" and g)t=()nt" ant!!)t!% %)'r"e

"tarted !n L)nd)n..

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1-.. In De%e(er 2++:7 I %a(e d)4nt) ,enna! 4!t te re"#)ndent7 t))8 er t)( 0a(!$ d)%t)r7 4) re0erred te re"#)ndentt) a t)# TB "#e%!a$!"t. Te d)%t)r at ,enna!a$") )#!ned te "a(e a" tat )0 te d)%t)r !nL)nd)n and adv!"ed te re"#)ndent t)%)nt!n'e 4!t te ant!!)t!% #re"%r!ed ted)%t)r !n L)nd)n.

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19..I %a(e a%8 t) L)nd)n7 a0ter

'!ng a ret'rn 0$!gt t!%8et t) te re"#)ndent0r)( ,enna! t) L)nd)n 0)r 3'$ 2++/7#re"'(!ng tat te TB treat(ent at ,enna!0)r te re"#)ndent 4)'$d e %)(#$eted t!"t!(e.

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20even t)'g7 I 4a" !n L)nd)n7 I'"ed t) get !n t)'% 4!t te re"#)ndent and'"ed t) "end e(a!$" )n te 0)nd )#e tat ('n%)nd!t!)na$ $)ve 4)'$d (a8e te re"#)ndent%ange er (!nd and eav!)'r and (a8e er%)rre%t er"e$0. H)4ever7 te re"#)ndent%)nt!n'ed t) a%t !rr!tat!)na$$ and ")4edanger !n a$$ te te$e#)ne %a$$" "$a((!ng

d)4n te re%e!verC.

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P.W.1 Kart!8 Ba$a8r!"nan ;'"and< 4) (ade a)ve

"tate(ent7 4a" "'&e%ted t) $engt %r)""=e>a(!nat!)n 't

n)t!ng a" %)(e )'t 4!% %reate" d)'t !n !" te"t!()n.

1+. Te a##e$$ant V!da V!"4anatan ad a$") 0!$ed er

ev!den%e e0)re te tr!a$ %)'rt7 !n te 0)r( )0 a00!dav!t7 and "e

a$") g)t er"e$0 %r)""=e>a(!ned a" D.W.1. Se den!ed te

a$$egat!)n" (ade er '"and 't !n %r)""=e>a(!nat!)n "e

ad(!t" tat te (arr!age 4a" n)t %)n"'((ated. Te re$evant

#)rt!)n 0r)( er %r)""=e>a(!nat!)n !" e!ng re#r)d'%ed e$)4?

@ . .. It !" 4r)ng t) "tate tatn)r(a$$ I '"ed t) !t te #et!t!)ner ($eg" and 4a8e !( '# and tat I '"ed t) tr)4te )&e%t" )n te #et!t!)ner and tat tr)'gt!" I ad ara""ed te #et!t!)ner #"!%a$$and (enta$$. I0 !t !" a"8ed tat 4eter te(arr!age 4a" %)n"'((ated7 n) !t !" n)t. Te#et!t!)ner "a!d tat 4e %an eget te %!$da0ter )ne )r t4) ear". I and te #et!t!)ner4ere %$)"e. A" te #et!t!)ner &)!ned te ne4

&) e 4a" 'nder "tre"" and ten"!)n. Te#et!t!)ner ad tr)!d !n0e%t!)n 0reF'ent$. Te#et!t!)ner "a!d tat te "tart!ng )0 te

(atr!()n!a$ $!0e "a$$ e #)"t=#)ned. It 4a" n)tta8en a" an !""'e. A0ter ()nt" )0 te(arr!age7 I e%a(e !$$. Hen%e7 I %a(e t),enna!. It !" 4r)ng t) "tate tat tere !" n)%)nne%t!)n et4een tr)!d !n0e%t!)n7 and te#"!%a$ re$at!)n"!# and tat I a( add'%!ng0a$"e$.

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- #a""#)rt !" $!ng 4!t (e. It !" %)rre%t t)"tate tat !n te #a""#)rt7 a "ea$ !" (ade 0)rv!"a. I0 !t !" a"8ed 4en ( U.K. v!"a 4)'$de>#!re7 !t !" 0)r : ear".

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Be0)re ( '"and %)'$d 0!$e t!" %a"e7 I d!dn)t 0!$e an %a"e 0)r te re"t!t't!)n )0 %)n&'ga$r!gt". It !" 4r)ng t) "tate tat a" I ad n)!ntent!)n t) $!ve t)geter7 I d!d n)t 0!$e "'% a%a"e. C

11. Te H!g ,)'rt 4!$e re&e%t!ng te e>#$anat!)n g!ven

te 4!0e a" t) 4 te (arr!age 4a" n)t %)n"'((ated

)"erved a" 'nder?

@ 99. It a" t) e 0'rter #)!nted )'ttat 4!$e P.W.1 4a" %r)"" e>a(!ned tere"#)ndent7 !t a" n)t een "'gge"ted t)P.W.1 tat e "'gge"ted t) te re"#)ndent

tat te ")'$d ave a %!$d )n$ a0ter t4)ear". T'" !t a##ear" tat t!" e>#$anat!)n )0te re"#)ndent 0)r n)n %)n"'((at!)n )0 te(arr!age !" )n$ an a0tert)'gt. Evena""'(!ng 0)r a ()(ent tat te a##e$$ant4anted t) ave a %!$d )n$ a0ter t4) ear"tat d)e" n)t (ean tat te a##e$$ant and te

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;ii< On %)(#reen"!ve a##ra!"a$ )0 te ent!re(atr!()n!a$ $!0e )0 te #art!e"7 !t e%)(e"a'ndant$ %$ear tat "!t'at!)n !" "'% tat te4r)nged #art %ann)t rea")na$ e a"8ed t) #'t'# 4!t "'% %)nd'%t and %)nt!n'e t) $!ve 4!t )ter#art.

;iii< -ere %)$dne"" )r $a%8 )0 a00e%t!)n %ann)ta()'nt t) %r'e$t7 0reF'ent r'dene"" )0 $ang'age7#et'$an%e )0 (anner7 !nd!00eren%e and neg$e%t (area% "'% a degree tat !t (a8e" te (arr!ed $!0e0)r te )ter "#)'"e a")$'te$ !nt)$era$e.

;iv< -enta$ %r'e$t !" a "tate )0 (!nd. Te 0ee$!ng)0 dee# ang'!"7 d!"a##)!nt(ent7 0r'"trat!)n !n )ne"#)'"e %a'"ed te %)nd'%t )0 )ter 0)r a $)ngt!(e (a $ead t) (enta$ %r'e$t.

;v< A "'"ta!ned %)'r"e )0 a'"!ve and '(!$!at!ngtreat(ent %a$%'$ated t) t)rt're7 d!"%)(()de )rrender (!"era$e $!0e )0 te "#)'"e.

;vi< S'"ta!ned 'n&'"t!0!a$e %)nd'%t andeav!)'r )0 )ne "#)'"e a%t'a$$ a00e%t!ng #"!%a$and (enta$ ea$t )0 te )ter "#)'"e. Tetreat(ent %)(#$a!ned )0 and te re"'$tant danger )ra##reen"!)n ('"t e ver grave7 "'"tant!a$ and4e!gt.

;vii< S'"ta!ned re#reen"!$e %)nd'%t7 "t'd!edneg$e%t7 !nd!00eren%e )r t)ta$ de#art're 0r)( ten)r(a$ "tandard )0 %)n&'ga$ 8!ndne"" %a'"!ng !n&'r

t) (enta$ ea$t )r der!v!ng "ad!"t!% #$ea"'re %ana$") a()'nt t) (enta$ %r'e$t.

;viii< Te %)nd'%t ('"t e ('% ()re tan&ea$)'"7 "e$0!"ne""7 #)""e""!vene""7 4!%%a'"e" 'na##!ne"" and d!""at!"0a%t!)n and

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e()t!)na$ '#"et (a n)t e a gr)'nd 0)r grant )0d!v)r%e )n te gr)'nd )0 (enta$ %r'e$t.

;ix< -ere tr!v!a$ !rr!tat!)n"7 F'arre$"7 n)r(a$ 4ear

and tear )0 te (arr!ed $!0e 4!% a##en" !n da=t)=da $!0e 4)'$d n)t e adeF'ate 0)r grant )0 d!v)r%e)n te gr)'nd )0 (enta$ %r'e$t.

;x< Te (arr!ed $!0e ")'$d e rev!e4ed a" a4)$e and a 0e4 !")$ated !n"tan%e" )ver a #er!)d )0ear" 4!$$ n)t a()'nt t) %r'e$t. Te !$$ %)nd'%t('"t e #er"!"tent 0)r a 0a!r$ $engt #er!)d7 4erete re$at!)n"!# a" deter!)rated t) an e>tent tate%a'"e )0 te a%t" and eav!)'r )0 a "#)'"e7 te4r)nged #art 0!nd" !t e>tre(e$ d!00!%'$t t) $!ve 4!tte )ter #art an $)nger7 (a a()'nt t) (enta$%r'e$t.

;xi< I0 a '"and "'(!t" !("e$0 0)r an )#erat!)n)0 "ter!$!"at!)n 4!t)'t (ed!%a$ rea")n" and 4!t)'tte %)n"ent )r 8n)4$edge )0 !" 4!0e and "!(!$ar$7 !0te 4!0e 'nderg)e" va"e%t)( )r a)rt!)n 4!t)'t(ed!%a$ rea")n )r 4!t)'t te %)n"ent )r 8n)4$edge

)0 er '"and7 "'% an a%t )0 te "#)'"e (a $eadt) (enta$ %r'e$t.

;xii< Un!$atera$ de%!"!)n )0 re0'"a$ t) ave!nter%)'r"e 0)r %)n"!dera$e #er!)d 4!t)'t teree!ng an #"!%a$ !n%a#a%!t )r va$!d rea")n (aa()'nt t) (enta$ %r'e$t.

;xiii< Un!$atera$ de%!"!)n )0 e!ter '"and )r 4!0e

a0ter (arr!age n)t t) ave %!$d 0r)( te (arr!age(a a()'nt t) %r'e$t.

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Te a)ve (ent!)ned !$$'"trat!)n"7 N). ;v!!!< and ;>!!< g!ven !n

S/r *# %a"e ;"'#ra


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a00e%t!ng te )ter. Te %r'e$t (a e (enta$)r #"!%a$7 !ntent!)na$ )r 'n!ntent!)na$. Tere(a e %a"e" 4ere te %)nd'%t %)(#$a!ned)0 !t"e$0 !" ad en)'g and #er "e 'n$a40'$ )r!$$ega$. Ten te !(#a%t )r te !n&'r!)'" e00e%t)n te )ter "#)'"e need n)t e enF'!red !nt))r %)n"!dered. In "'% %a"e"7 te %r'e$t 4!$$e e"ta$!"ed !0 te %)nd'%t !t"e$0 !" #r)ved )rad(!tted.C

19. In v!e4 )0 te a)ve #r!n%!#$e )0 $a4 $a!d d)4n t!"

,)'rt7 and av!ng %)n"!dered te "'(!""!)n" )0 #art!e"7 and

te ev!den%e )n re%)rd7 4e d) n)t 0!nd an gr)'nd t) !nter0ere

4!t te de%ree )0 d!v)r%e #a""ed te H!g ,)'rt )n te

gr)'nd )0 %r'e$t. H)4ever7 4e are %)n"%!)'" )0 te 0a%t tat

te a##e$$ant7 a" "tated er7 4a" d)!ng a &) e0)re er

(arr!age7 and "e ;V!da V!"4anatan< a" "tated a" D.W.1

tat at #re"ent "e !" n)t d)!ng an 4)r8. A" "'% 4e t!n8 !t

&'"t and #r)#er t) d!re%t te re"#)ndent t) #a t) te a##e$$ant

;4!0e< )ne t!(e $'(# "'( a()'nt )0 a$!()n. We are )0 te

v!e4 tat !n te 0a%t" and %!r%'("tan%e" )0 te %a"e 8ee#!ng !n

(!nd te e%)n)(!% "tat'" )0 te #art!e"7 a d!re%t!)n t) te

re"#)ndent t) #a R".9+ $a8" ;R'#ee" 0)rt $a8" )n$< a" )ne

t!(e a$!()n t) te a##e$$ant7 4)'$d (eet te end" )0 &'"t!%e7 t)

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4!% $earned %)'n"e$ 0)r te re"#)ndent d'r!ng te arg'(ent"

"tated tat te re"#)ndent !" read t) #a te "a(e.

1:. A%%)rd!ng$7 4e d!"#)"e )0 t!" a##ea$ a00!r(!ng te

de%ree )0 d!v)r%e granted te H!g ,)'rt d!"")$v!ng te

(arr!age et4een te #art!e" na(e$ Kart!8 Ba$a8r!"nan and

V!da V!"4anatan7 4!t 0'rter d!re%t!)n 'nder Se%t!)n 2: )0

te H!nd' -arr!age A%t7 15:: tat te re"#)ndent "a$$ #a t)

te a##e$$ant R".9+ $a8" ;R'#ee" 0)rt $a8" )n$< a" a $'(#

"'( a()'nt )0 #er(anent a$!()n7 4!t!n a #er!)d )0 tree

()nt" 0r)( te date )0 t!" &'dg(ent. N) )rder a" t) %)"t".

777..777777777777.77J. (SUDHANSU J8OTI MUHOPADHA8A

7777777777777777..J(PRAFULLA C. PANT

NE: DELHI+SEPTEMBER 22+ 2014

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Documents

Denial of Sex to Husband for Long Time Without Any Sufficient Cause Amounts to Mental Cruelty