Chhattisgarh High Court: A Single Judge Bench comprising of Goutam Bhaduri, J. dismissed an appeal filed against the order of the lower court regarding a divorce suit filed by the appellant/husband on the ground that the respondent/wife deserted him.
In the present case, it has been stated that, after the marriage of appellant and respondent, the respondent got an opportunity of a job and was selected as an Assistant Professor in the Education Department and she had to join her posting somewhere else other than her place of matrimonial home. Further, the husband suggested the wife not to join her place of posting, but she did not hear the advice and however supported by her family members and without the consent eventually, she joined her job at other place. It was pleaded for this very reason, that the wife deserted the husband, therefore, the marriage be annulled by a decree of divorce under Section 13(1)(i-b) of Hindu Marriage Act.
“Husband was completely depending as a parasite on his mother and father, therefore, despite the fact that the husband was agreed for his wife to join the job, he could not oppose.”
The Court below found no ground to hold that the wife had deserted the husband, therefore, dismissed the petition, which lead for the instant appeal.
The High Court on considering the circumstances and submissions of the present appeal, concluded its decision while stating that,
“When the girl is well educated, it is not expected that she would be kept in a boundary of matrimonial obligation only in confinement. It is for the husband and wife to balance the marital ties, which they are duly bound to do for each other”.
The Court while referring to the Supreme Court decision in Joseph Shine v. Union of India, 2018 SCC OnLine SC 1676, in which it was observed that “wishes of the husband to throw a choice to the wife to hear to his wishes to make a choice” as has happened in this case will slaughter her core identity. Therefore, the husband and wife are to be equally treated and if the wife opted to join the job at different place, she cannot be otherwise forced at the behest of the husband or his family members to remain at her matrimonial home alone.
Thus, the grounds stated by the appellant in regard to desertion cannot be entertained as the job against the wishes of the husband does not justify the claim that the wife has deserted and except that no ground of mental cruelty has been pleaded or evidence has been adduced. The appeal was accordingly dismissed. [Hemant Parasar v. Kamini Parasar,2018 SCC OnLine Chh 663, order dated 26-11-2018]
