Atul Georkar vs Anupama Georkar

N.K. Chandravanshi, J

This appeal has been preferred by the appellant/husband (hereinafter referred to ‘husband’) against the judgment and decree dated 27.4.2018 passed by Third Additional Principal Judge, Family Court, Durg (CG) in Civil Suit No.133A/2010, whereby application preferred by him under Section 13(1)(i-a) and 13(1)(iii) of the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 (for short ‘the Act 1955’) seeking decree of divorce from the respondent/wife (hereinafter referred to ‘wife’) was dismissed.

Facts of the case, in brief, are that the marriage between the parties was solemnised on 25.02.2007 as per the Hindu rites and rituals without taking any dowry. After marriage they have been blessed with a girl child namely Alisha on 17.02.2008. After the marriage it was revealed that the said marriage was solemnized by willfully and deliberately concealing the fact that the wife was suffering from mental illness/mental disorder and this fact was not disclosed to the husband by parents of the wife. Since the gesture and behaviour of the wife were abnormal, being asked in this regard by the husband, she did not reply. On being asked to her parents, they also did not inform anything to the husband and his family members. It is further stated that when she was pregnant, she fell sick and was admitted in Sector 9 Hospital, Bhilai. On the advise of the doctor, she was admitted in the psychiatric ward from 17.8.2007 to 28.8.2007, wherein she was treated for aforesaid illness. It is further averred that wife lodged false and baseless FIR under Section 498A, 34 IPC and Section 3 & 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act against the husband, his father, mother, brother and sister, which amount to cruelty towards the husband. Further no physical relation has been established between the husband and wife after 20.10.2007, hence, the husband filed application for grant of decree of divorce under Section 13(1)(i-a) and 13(1)(iii) of the Act 1955.

In reply, the wife denied all the allegations levelled against her. It is stated that on being demand made by the husband and his family members, her father had given Alto Car, fridge, Washing machine, TV, Almirah, dressing table, cooler, double bed, various ornaments of gold and silver and Rs.33,771/- fix deposit at the time of the marriage. Even after the marriage, the husband and his relatives subjected her to cruelty on demand of Rs.5 lakh from her parents. She was also pressurised for termination of her pregnancy, though it was not happened. On 17.2.2008, she delivered a female child, but the husband or his family members did not come to see them. It is further alleged that her father-in-law used to compel her to watch dirty channels in the TV with him. On being complaint made by her to the husband, he scolded her and assaulted her. It is further averred by the wife that she is physically and mentally fit and is well educated. Allegation of her mental illness/mental disorder is totally false and baseless, which has been alleged upon her by the husband only to get divorce because he wanted to perform second marriage. It is further stated that husband is posted as Officer in Bhilai Steel Plant and earning huge monthly salary, hence, they may be granted pendente lite maintenance as they are living apart since 2008.

On the basis of the rival pleadings made by both the parties, the learned trial Court framed issues in respect of allegation of cruelty and mental illness of the wife and also their eligibility for granting maintenance. After considering the evidence adduced by both the parties, the learned Family court held that the husband has failed to prove the cruelty by the wife towards him and also her mental illness. However, it granted maintenance of Rs.8,000/- per month in favour of the wife and also declined to grant divorce in favour of the appellant. Hence, this appeal.

At the outset, learned counsel for the appellant would submit that he does not want to press the ground of mental illness/mental disorder of the wife, as the learned Family Court has recorded a negative finding against the husband in this regard. It is further submitted by learned counsel for the husband that although the husband has not been able to prove the mental illness of wife, but conduct and behaviour of the wife was never normal towards him and his family members as she did not lead a marital life with the husband, therefore, she lodged false and baseless FIR bearing Crime No.75/2008 in Police Station Kotwali, Bhilai Nagar, Durg for the offence under Section 498A/34 IPC and Section 3 & 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act against the husband and his relatives. In that case parents and the relatives of the husband were arrested and were remained in jail. Due to such FIR, the husband was compelled to hide for almost 5-6 months. Later on he was granted anticipatory bail by the High Court. It is further contended that in the aforesaid case, after filing of the charge sheet by the police, criminal case bearing RCC No.28721 of 2008 was registered in the Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Durg in which the husband and his relatives have been acquitted vide judgment dated 27.4.2019 passed by JMFC Durg. Documents in this regard has been filed by the husband along with suitable application. Thus, lodging false and baseless FIR and criminal case against the husband, his parents and relatives, itself create cruelty towards husband by the wife, hence, it is prayed that decree of divorce may be granted in favour of the husband by allowing this appeal. In this regard, learned counsel has relied in the case of K. Srinivas Rao Vs. DA Deepa (2013) 5 SCC 226, Rani Narasimha Sastri v. Rani Suneela Rani [(2020) 18 SCC 247] & Raj Talreja vs. Kavita Talreja (2017) 14 SCC 194.

Per contra, learned counsel appearing for the wife would submit that without having any mental illness/mental disorder, the husband filed the instant petition against the wife levelling false allegations in this regard, which shows the malafide conduct of the husband towards the wife. It is further stated that the wife was subjected to cruelty by the husband and his family members. They also harassed her on account of demand of money and even the husband used to abuse and assault her, due to such harassment she had attempted to commit suicide. He would further submit that although in criminal case lodged by the wife under Section 498A IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, the husband and his relatives have been acquitted, but learned counsel referring to cases Rani Narasimha Sastri (supra) & Raj Talreja (Supra) would submit that only on the basis of the FIR by the wife against the husband and his relatives, factum of cruelty by the wife towards the husband cannot be held proved. It is further submitted that the judgment and decree impugned passed by the learned Family Court is well merited, hence, the instant appeal is liable to be dismissed. In support of his case, learned counsel for the respondent also placed reliance in the matter of Durga Bai Vs. Narayan Sinha, 2017 SCC Online CHH 1246.

We have heard learned counsel for the parties, perused the impugned judgment along with record of the Court below and the material available on record.

During the pendency of this appeal, learned counsel for the appellant filed certified copy of the judgment dated 27.4.2019 passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Durg in Criminal Case bearing RCC No.28721/2008 (Crime No.75/2008, Police Station Bhilai Nagar) State of Chhattisgarh vs. Atul Georkar and others, whereby acquittal order was passed in favour of the husband and his relatives pursuant to criminal trial under Section 498A of IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. The husband has pleaded in his divorce petition and stated in his deposition in respect of aforesaid criminal case lodged by wife against him and his relatives, hence, the aforesaid judgment is very much relevant to the instant case, hence, we allow the application for taking additional documents on record filed by learned counsel for the appellant and certified copy of the judgment is taken on record.

The petition filed by the husband for dissolution of marriage was on two grounds. Firstly, on the ground of cruelty and, secondly, on the ground of unsound mind/mental disorder of the wife, which has been rejected the Family Court. With regard to the second ground, i.e. unsound mind/mental disorder of the wife, at the very beginning of the argument, learned counsel for the appellant submitted that he does not want to press this ground, which has been negated by the Family Court also. In view of the above submission of learned counsel for the appellant, we do not deliberate on the aforesaid ground.

The husband has pleaded in his divorce petition that the wife has lodged criminal case against him, his parents, brother and sister under Section 498A, 34 of IPC and Section 3 & 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. He has stated this fact in his deposition also. The wife has also stated in her reply that she has lodged FIR against the husband and his relatives in connection with harassment meted out to her by them. She has further pleaded that such report lodged by her is true. She and her father Anil Meshram (NAW-2) have further stated aforesaid facts in their deposition.

The husband has filed copy of the FIR lodged by the wife against them which has been marked as Ex-P/7C. As per the contents of the FIR, the wife had levelled allegations that the husband, his father, mother and brother are greedy persons of dowry, and she was subjected to cruelty on demand of Rs. 5 lakh, as they were not satisfied with the articles received at the time of the marriage. She has further alleged that with regard to aforesaid demand, she was assaulted by the husband and abused by her sister-in-law and father-in-law in filthy language. Even she was pressurized to terminate her pregnancy.

Perusal of the judgment of acquittal of the husband and his relatives dated 27.4.2019 shows that after considering the evidence, the learned trial Court acquitted all the accused observing in para 26 of the judgment which is reproduced as under:

Certificates prepared by the Judicial Magistrate under Section 428 CrPC with regard to custody period of Rajesh Georkar (brother of the husband), Atual Georkar (husband), Dhaniram Georkar (father of the husband) and Prerana Georkar (sister of the husband) are also attached with judgment dated 27.4.2019 which show that they suffered judicial custody in aforesaid criminal case.

The Supreme Court in the case of K. Srinivas Rao (supra) has observed that “ the conduct of the respondent-wife in filing the complaint (under Section 498A IPC) making unfounded, indecent and defamatory allegation against her mother-in-law, in filing revision seeking enhancement of the sentence awarded to the appellant-husband, in filing appeal questioning the acquittal of the appellant-husband and acquittal of his parents indicates that she made all attempts to ensure that he and his parents are put in jail and he is removed from the job. We have no manner to doubt that this conduct has caused mental cruelty to the appellant-husband.”

The Supreme Court in the matter of Rani Narsimha (Supra) has observed that “ it is true that it is open for anyone to file complaint or lodge prosecution for redressal for his or her grievances and lodge a first information report for an offence also and mere lodging of the complaint or FIR cannot be ipso facto treated as cruelty. But when a person undergoes a trial in which he is acquitted of the allegation of offence under section 498-A of IPC, levelled by the wife against the husband, it cannot be accepted that no cruelty has meted on the husband.

In the case of Raj Talreja (supra) the legal position as to when a false complaint would amount to cruelty was also examined by the Apex Court as below:-

“11. Cruelty can never be defined with exactitude. What is cruelty will depend upon the facts and circumstances of each case. In the present case, from the facts narrated above, it is apparent that the wife made reckless, defamatory and false accusations against her husband, his family members and colleagues, which would definitely have the effect of lowering his reputation in the eyes of his peers. Mere filing of complaints is not cruelty, if there are justifiable reasons to file the complaints. Merely because no action is taken on the complaint or after trial the accused is acquitted may not be a ground to treat such accusations of the wife as cruelty within the meaning of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (For short the Act). However, if it is found that the allegations are patently false, then there can be no manner of doubt that the said conduct of a spouse levelling false accusations against the other spouse would be an act of cruelty.”

In the instant case, wife has levelled allegation against the husband, his parents and other relatives that they subjected her to cruelty on demand of money (dowry) from her parents. She was also abused, assaulted and humiliated. She also levelled allegation against her father-in-law that he used to force her to watch dirty channels in the TV with him and due to such harassment caused by them, she had attempted to commit suicide. Perusal of the judgment dated 27.4.2009 passed by Judicial Magistrate First Class in aforesaid criminal case shows that such allegations were levelled by her upon the husband and his family members, but after appreciation of the evidence, the learned Magistrate has acquitted the husband and his family members.

Considering the aforesaid legal preposition mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, we are of the considered view that on a complaint made by the wife, entire family of the husband were implicated in the criminal case, which was ultimately culminated in their acquittal. Report under Section 498A of the IPC cannot be used as a tool to teach a lesson to the family members of the husband, as facing a criminal trial would always castigate as stigma to them in the society and it may also adversely affect the future prospects of the husband who is said to be working on the post of Assistant General Managaer (AGM) in Steel Authority of India, Bhilai Steel Plant. It is also pertinent to note that in the instant case, copy of the judgment of the Criminal Case shows that husband and the family members were also remained in jail for some days. Therefore, in view of the aforesaid law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, we are of the view that false accusation made by the wife against the husband and his entire family members under Section 498-A IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act would amount to mental cruelty towards the husband and such conduct of the wife caused mental agony/ pain and suffering to the husband, which would not make possible him to lead further marital life with the wife. Hence, we are inclined to grant decree of divorce in favour of the husband.

Though we have held that act of the wife in lodging the false complaint (criminal case) against the husband and his entire family members amount to cruelty, but in the case of Raj Talreja (supra) the Supreme Court has held that despite such facts, the Court cannot be oblivious to requirement of the wife to live a respectful life. In the instant case, the husband has filed his salary slip for the months of September 2022, October 2022, November 2022, December 2022 and January 2023 which shows that he is working on the post of Assistant General Manager (AGM) in Steel Authority of India, Bhilai Steel Plant. In aforesaid salary slips, his average gross pay has been shown about Rs.2 lakh per month and after deduction his average net pay is shown as Rs.1,14,000/-.

The learned Family Court has granted only Rs.8,000/- per month towards maintenance to the wife from the order dated 27.4.2018. But considering the income of the husband, the aforesaid amount is found to be meager. In the case of Rajnish Vs. Neha and other (2021) 2 SCC 324, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has held that there is no straight jacket formula for fixing quantum of maintenance, but the maintenance amount awarded must be reasonable and realistic and as per the status of the parties which has been observed in para 81 as below:-

“81. A careful and just balance must be drawn between all relevant factors. The test for determination of maintenance in matrimonial disputes depends on the financial status of the respondent, and the standard of living that the applicant was accustomed to in her matrimonial home. [Chaturbhuj v. Sita Bai, (2008) 2 SCC 316 : (2008) 1 SCC (Civ) 547 : (2008) 1 SCC (Cri) 356] The maintenance amount awarded must be reasonable and realistic, and avoid either of the two extremes i.e. maintenance awarded to the wife should neither be so extravagant which becomes oppressive and unbearable for the respondent, nor should it be so meager that it drives the wife to penury. The sufficiency of the quantum has to be adjudged so that the wife is able to maintain herself with reasonable comfort.”

In the instant case, as has been mentioned in the various salary slips of the husband, his gross salary is found to be about 2 lakh per month and net salary is Rs.1,14,000/- per month. Hence, considering the income, expenditure/liabilities of the husband and assuming the living standard of the parties, we deem it proper to enhance the amount of maintenance/alimony granted to the wife from Rs.8,000/- per month to Rs.30,000/- per month so as to make the wife capable to live a respectful life.

The appeal is accordingly allowed. Judgment and decree dated 27.4.2018 passed by the 3rd Additional Principal Judge, Family Court Durg in Civil Suit No.133A/2010 is set aside. The petition for divorce filed by the husband under Section 13 of the Act, 1955 against the respondent/wife is allowed/decreed and the marriage of the parties solemnised on 25.02.2007 is dissolved from the date of this order by a decree of divorce. The wife shall be entitled to get the amount of maintenance/alimony of Rs.30,000/- per month from the appellant/husband from the date of the judgment passed by the Family Court i.e. order dated 27.4.2018. It is made clear that as and when the salary of husband is reciprocally increased, subsequently the amount of maintenance of respondent/wife shall also be increased proportionally to the extent of increase in future salary. If any amount has been paid pursuant to the order of the Family Court, it shall be adjustable against the aforesaid amount granted by this Court.

Let a decree be drawn up accordingly.