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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Section 498-A of the IPC could be made compoundable, - a complaint under Section 498-A of the IPC presents difficulty because the said offence is not compoundable except in the State of Andhra Pradesh where by a State amendment, it has been made compoundable. - We, therefore, feel that though offence punishable under Section 498-A of the IPC is not compoundable, in appropriate cases if the parties are willing and if it appears to the criminal court that there exist elements of settlement, it should direct the parties to explore the possibility of settlement through mediation. - No uniform standard can ever be laid down for guidance, yet we deem it appropriate to enumerate some instances of human behaviour which may be relevant in dealing with the cases of “mental cruelty”. The instances indicated in the succeeding paragraphs are only illustrative and not exhaustive: (i) On consideration of complete matrimonial life of the parties, acute mental pain, agony and suffering as would not make possible for the parties to live with each other could come within the broad parameters of mental cruelty. (ii) On comprehensive appraisal of the entire matrimonial life of the parties, it becomes abundantly clear that situation is such that the 10Page 11 wronged party cannot reasonably be asked to put up with such conduct and continue to live with other party. (iii) xxx xxx xxx (iv) Mental cruelty is a state of mind. The feeling of deep anguish, disappointment, frustration in one spouse caused by the conduct of other for a long time may lead to mental cruelty. (v) A sustained course of abusive and humiliating treatment calculated to torture, discommode or render miserable life of the spouse. (vi) Sustained unjustifiable conduct and behaviour of one spouse actually affecting physical and mental health of the other spouse. The treatment complained of and the resultant danger or apprehension must be very grave, substantial and weighty. (vii) xxx xxx xxx (viii) xxx xxx xxx (ix) xxx xxx xxx (x) The married life should be reviewed as a whole and a few isolated instances over a period of years will not amount to cruelty. The ill conduct must be persistent for a fairly lengthy period, where the relationship has deteriorated to an extent that because of the acts and behaviour of a spouse, the wronged party finds it extremely difficult to live with the other party any longer, may amount to mental cruelty. 11Page 12 (xi) xxx xxx xxx (xii) xxx xxx xxx (xiii) xxx xxx xxx (xiv) Where there has been a long period of continuous separation, it may fairly be concluded that the matrimonial bond is beyond repair. The marriage becomes a fiction though supported by a legal tie. By refusing to sever that tie, the law in such cases, does not serve the sanctity of marriage; on the contrary, it shows scant regard for the feelings and emotions of the parties. In such like situations, it may lead to mental cruelty.” It is pertinent to note that in this case the husband and wife had lived separately for more than sixteen and a half years. This fact was taken into consideration along with other facts as leading to the conclusion that matrimonial bond had been ruptured beyond repair because of the mental cruelty caused by the wife. - directions, which the courts dealing with the matrimonial matters shall follow: (a) In terms of Section 9 of the Family Courts Act, the Family Courts shall make all efforts to settle the matrimonial disputes through mediation. Even if the 36Page 37 Counsellors submit a failure report, the Family Courts shall, with the consent of the parties, refer the matter to the mediation centre. In such a case, however, the Family Courts shall set a reasonable time limit for mediation centres to complete the process of mediation because otherwise the resolution of the disputes by the Family Court may get delayed. In a given case, if there is good chance of settlement, the Family Court in its discretion, can always extend the time limit. (b) The criminal courts dealing with the complaint under Section 498-A of the IPC should, at any stage and particularly, before they take up the complaint for hearing, refer the parties to mediation centre if they feel that there exist elements of settlement and both the parties are willing. However, they should take care to see that in this exercise, rigour, purport and efficacy of Section 498-A of the IPC is not diluted. Needless to say that the discretion to grant or not to 37Page 38 grant bail is not in any way curtailed by this direction. It will be for the concerned court to work out the modalities taking into consideration the facts of each case. (c) All mediation centres shall set up pre-litigation desks/clinics; give them wide publicity and make efforts to settle matrimonial disputes at pre-litigation stage. 37. The appeal is disposed of in the aforestated terms.


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REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 1794 OF 2013
(Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 4782 of
2007)
K. SRINIVAS RAO  … APPELLANT
Versus
D.A. DEEPA  … RESPONDENT
JUDGMENT
(SMT.) RANJANA PRAKASH DESAI, J.
1. Leave granted.
2. This appeal, by special leave, has been filed by the
appellant-husband,  being aggrieved by the judgment  and
order dated 8/11/2006 passed by the Andhra Pradesh High
Court in Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No.797/03, setting aside
the decree of divorce granted in his favour.
Page 2
3. The appellant-husband is working as Assistant Registrar
in the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The marriage between the
appellant-husband and the respondent-wife was solemnized
on 25/4/1999 as per Hindu rites and customs. Unfortunately,
on the very next day disputes arose between the elders on
both sides which resulted in their abusing each other and
hurling  chappals  at  each  other.  As  a  consequence,  on
27/4/1999, the newly married couple got separated without
consummation of the marriage and started living separately.
On  4/10/1999,  the  respondent-wife  lodged  a  criminal
complaint against the appellant-husband before the Women
Protection Cell alleging inter alia that the appellant-husband
is  harassing  her  for  more  dowry.  This  complaint  is  very
crucial to this case. We shall advert to it more in detail a
little  later.   Escalated  acrimony  led  to  complaints  and
counter  complaints.  The  respondent-wife  filed  a  petition
under  Section  9  of  the  Hindu  Marriage  Act,  1955  for
restitution  of  conjugal  rights  before  the  Family  Court,
Secunderabad.  The appellant-husband filed a counter-claim
seeking dissolution of marriage on the ground of cruelty and
2Page 3
desertion  under  Section  13(1)(i-a)  and  (b)  of  the  Hindu
Marriage Act, 1955.
4. The  Family  Court  while  dismissing  the  petition  for
restitution of conjugal rights and granting decree of divorce
inter  alia held  that  the  respondent-wife  stayed  in  the
appellant-husband’s house only for a day, she admitted that
she did not have any conversation with anyone and hence
any amount of oral evidence adduced by her will not support
her plea that she was harassed and driven out of the house;
that the story that the appellant-husband made a demand of
dowry of Rs.10,00,000/- is false; that by filing false complaint
against  the  appellant-husband  and  his  family,  alleging
offence under Section 498-A of the IPC in the Metropolitan
Magistrate  Court,  Hyderabad  and  by  filing  complaints
against the appellant-husband in the High Court where he is
working, the respondent-wife caused mental cruelty to the
appellant-husband and that reunion was not possible.  The
Family  Court  directed  the  appellant-husband  to  repay
Rs.80,000/-  given  by  the  respondent-wife’s  father  to  him
3Page 4
with interest at 8% per annum from the date of the marriage
till payment.
5. By the impugned judgment the High Court allowed the
appeal  carried  by  the  respondent-wife  against  the  said
judgment and set aside the decree of divorce granted in
favour of the appellant-husband. The High Court  inter alia
observed that the finding of the Family Court that lodging a
complaint  with  the  police  against  the  appellant-husband
amounts to cruelty is perverse because it is not a ground for
divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.  The High Court
further held that the appellant-husband and the respondent wife
 did not live together for a long time and, therefore, the
question of their treating each other with cruelty does not
arise.  According to the High Court, the conclusion that the
respondent-wife  caused  mental  cruelty  to  the  appellant
husband is based on presumptions and assumptions.
6. Mr. Jayanth Muth Raj, learned counsel for the appellant
husband assailed the conduct of the respondent-wife and
4Page 5
submitted that it disentitles her from getting any relief from
this Court.   Counsel took us through the complaint lodged
by the respondent-wife with the Superintendent of Police,
Women  Protection  Cell,  Hyderabad,  making  defamatory
allegations against the mother of the appellant-husband and
drew our attention to the various legal proceedings initiated
by  her  against  the  appellant-husband  and  his  family.
Counsel submitted that she also lodged complaints with the
High Court asking for the removal of the appellant-husband
from his job.  Counsel submitted that by lodging such false
complaints  the  respondent-wife  caused  extreme  mental
cruelty to the appellant-husband.  Counsel submitted that
the  High  Court  fell  into  a  grave  error  in  observing  that
because the respondent-wife did not live with the appellant
husband for long she could not have caused mental cruelty
to him.  Counsel submitted that this observation is erroneous
and is contrary to the law laid down by this Court.  False and
defamatory allegations made in the pleadings can also cause
mental cruelty.  Counsel submitted that the marriage has
irretrievably broken down and, therefore, it is necessary to
5Page 6
dissolve  it  by  a  decree  of  divorce.   In  support  of  his
submissions counsel placed reliance on G.V.N. Kameswara
Rao vs.  G. Jabilli
1
,  Parveen Mehta vs.  Inderjit Mehta
2
,
Vijayakumar  R.  Bhate vs.  Neela  Vijayakumar  Bhate
3
,
Durga  Prasanna  Tripathy vs.  Arundhati  Tripathy
4
,
Naveen  Kohli vs.  Neelu  Kohli
5
 and  Samar  Ghosh vs.
Jaya Ghosh
6
.
7. Mr. D. Rama Krishna Reddy, learned counsel for the
respondent-wife,  on  the  other  hand,  submitted  that  the
father of the respondent-wife had given Rs.80,000/- and 15
tolas of gold as dowry to the appellant-husband’s family.
However, they demanded additional cash of Rs.10,00,000/-.
Because this demand could not be met, the respondent-wife
and her family was humiliated and ill-treated. Therefore, the
parents of the respondent-wife had to return to their house
along with her immediately after marriage.  The father of the
respondent-wife  made  efforts  to  talk  to  the  appellant-
1
 (2002) 2 SCC 296
2
 (2002) 5 SCC 706
3
 (2003) 6 SCC 334
4
 (2005) 7 SCC 353
5
 (2006) 4 SCC 558
6
 (2007) 4 SCC 511
6Page 7
husband’s family, but, they did not respond to his efforts.
They  persisted  with  their  demands  and,  therefore,  the
respondent-wife had no alternative but to lodge complaint
against  them  under  Section  498-A of  the  IPC  before  the
Metropolitan Magistrate, Hyderabad.  The appellant-husband
thereafter gave a false assurance that he will not harass her
and, therefore, she withdrew the complaint and went to the
matrimonial house.  However, the approach of the appellant
husband and his family did not change. She had to therefore
renew her complaint.  Counsel submitted that only because
of  the  obstinate  and  uncompromising  attitude  of  the
appellant-husband and his family that the respondent-wife
had  to  take  recourse  to  court  proceedings.   Counsel
submitted that the respondent-wife values the matrimonial
tie.   She  wants  to  lead  a  happy  married  life  with  the
appellant-husband.  She had, therefore, filed a petition for
restitution of conjugal rights which should have been allowed
by the Family Court.  Counsel submitted that after properly
evaluating all the circumstances the High Court has rightly
set aside the decree of divorce and granted a decree of
7Page 8
restitution of conjugal rights.  The High Court’s judgment,
therefore, merits no interference.
8. The matrimonial dispute started with a quarrel between
the  elders  of  both  sides  in  which  initially  the  appellant
husband and the respondent-wife were not involved.  The
ego battle of the elders took an ugly turn.  Parties were
dragged  to  the  court  and  the  inevitable  happened.  The
relations between the two families got strained. With a fond
hope that we could bring about a settlement we requested
the counsel to talk to the parties and convey our wishes that
they should bury the hatchet and start living together. We
also tried to counsel them in the court.  The respondent-wife
appears to be very keen to go back to the matrimonial home
and start life afresh, but the appellant-husband is adamant.
He  conveyed  to  us  through  his  counsel  that  by  filing
repeated false complaints against him and his family the
respondent-wife has caused extreme cruelty to them and
therefore it will not be possible to take her back.  In view of
this we have no option but to proceed with the case.
8Page 9
9. The  High  Court  has  taken  a  view  that  since  the
appellant-husband  and  the  respondent-wife  did  not  stay
together, there is no question of their causing cruelty to
each other.  The High Court concluded that the conclusion
drawn by the Family Court that the respondent-wife caused
mental cruelty to the appellant-husband is erroneous.  We
are unable to agree with the High Court.
10. Under  Section  13(1)(i-a)  of  the  Hindu  Marriage  Act,
1955, a marriage can be dissolved by a decree of divorce on
a petition presented either by the husband or the wife on the
ground that the other party has, after solemnization of the
marriage, treated the petitioner with cruelty.  In a series of
judgments this Court has repeatedly stated the meaning and
outlined the scope of the term ‘cruelty’.  Cruelty is evident
where one spouse has so treated the other and manifested
such feelings towards her or him as to cause in her or his
mind  reasonable  apprehension  that  it  will  be  harmful  or
9Page 10
injurious  to  live  with  the  other  spouse.   Cruelty  may  be
physical or mental.
11. In  Samar  Ghosh this Court set out illustrative cases
where inference of ‘mental cruelty’ can be drawn.  This list is
obviously not exhaustive because each case presents it’s
own peculiar factual matrix and existence or otherwise of
mental cruelty will have to be judged after applying mind to
it.  We must quote the relevant paragraph of Samar Ghosh.
We have reproduced only the instances which are relevant
to the present case.
“101. No uniform standard can ever be laid down
for  guidance,  yet  we  deem  it  appropriate  to
enumerate some instances of human behaviour
which may be relevant in dealing with the cases of
“mental cruelty”. The instances indicated in the
succeeding  paragraphs  are  only  illustrative  and
not exhaustive:
(i) On consideration of complete matrimonial life
of  the  parties,  acute  mental  pain,  agony  and
suffering  as  would  not  make  possible  for  the
parties to live with each other could come within
the broad parameters of mental cruelty.
(ii)  On  comprehensive  appraisal  of  the  entire
matrimonial  life  of  the  parties,  it  becomes
abundantly clear that situation is such that the
10Page 11
wronged party cannot reasonably be asked to put
up with such conduct and continue to live with
other party.
(iii)  xxx xxx xxx
(iv) Mental cruelty is a state of mind. The feeling
of  deep  anguish,  disappointment,  frustration  in
one spouse caused by the conduct of other for a
long time may lead to mental cruelty.
(v) A sustained course of abusive and humiliating
treatment calculated to  torture,  discommode  or
render miserable life of the spouse.
(vi) Sustained unjustifiable conduct and behaviour
of  one  spouse  actually  affecting  physical  and
mental health of the other spouse. The treatment
complained  of  and  the  resultant  danger  or
apprehension must be very grave, substantial and
weighty.
(vii)  xxx xxx xxx
(viii)  xxx xxx xxx
(ix)  xxx xxx xxx 
(x) The married life should be reviewed as a whole
and a few isolated instances over a period of years
will not amount to cruelty. The ill conduct must be
persistent for a fairly lengthy period, where the
relationship  has  deteriorated  to  an  extent  that
because of the acts and behaviour of a spouse,
the wronged party finds it extremely difficult to
live with the other party any longer, may amount
to mental cruelty.
11Page 12
(xi)  xxx xxx xxx
(xii)  xxx xxx xxx 
(xiii)  xxx xxx xxx
(xiv)  Where  there  has  been  a  long  period  of
continuous separation, it may fairly be concluded
that the matrimonial bond is beyond repair. The
marriage becomes a fiction though supported by a
legal tie. By refusing to sever that tie, the law in
such  cases,  does  not  serve  the  sanctity  of
marriage; on the contrary, it shows scant regard
for the feelings and emotions of the parties. In
such  like  situations,  it  may  lead  to  mental
cruelty.”
It is pertinent to note that in this case the husband and
wife had lived separately for more than sixteen and a half
years.  This fact was taken into consideration along with
other facts as leading to the conclusion that matrimonial
bond  had  been  ruptured  beyond  repair  because  of  the
mental cruelty caused by the wife.  Similar view was taken in
Naveen Kohli.
12. In V. Bhagat  v.  D. Bhagat
7
  in the divorce petition
filed by the husband the wife filed written statement stating
7
 (1994) 1 SCC 337
12Page 13
that the husband was suffering from mental hallucination,
that  his  was  a  morbid  mind  for  which  he  needs  expert
psychiatric  treatment  and  that  he  was  suffering  from
‘paranoid disorder’.  In cross-examination her counsel put
several questions to the husband suggesting that several
members  of  his  family  including  his  grandfather  were
lunatics.  This court held that these assertions cannot but
constitute mental cruelty of such a nature that the husband
cannot  be  asked  to  live  with  the  wife  thereafter.   Such
pleadings and questions it was held, are bound to cause
immense  mental  pain  and  anguish  to  the  husband.   In
Vijaykumar Bhate disgusting accusations of unchastity and
indecent  familiarity  with  a  neighbour  were  made  in  the
written statement.  This Court held that the allegations are
of such quality, magnitude and consequence as to cause
mental  pain,  agony  and  suffering  amounting  to  the
reformulated concept of cruelty in matrimonial law causing
profound and lasting disruption and driving the wife to feel
deeply  hurt  and  reasonably  apprehend  that  it  would  be
dangerous to live with her husband.  In Naveen Kohli the
13Page 14
respondent-wife got an advertisement issued in a national
newspaper that her husband was her employee.  She got
another news item issued cautioning his business associates
to  avoid dealing  with  him.   This was  treated as  causing
mental cruelty to the husband.
13. In Naveen Kohli the wife had filed several complaints
and  cases  against  the  husband.   This  Court  viewed  her
conduct as a conduct causing mental cruelty and observed
that the finding of the High Court that these proceedings
could not be taken to be such which may warrant annulment
of marriage is wholly unsustainable.
14. Thus,  to  the  instances  illustrative  of  mental  cruelty
noted in Samar Ghosh, we could add a few more.  Making
unfounded  indecent  defamatory  allegations  against  the
spouse  or  his  or  her  relatives  in  the  pleadings,  filing  of
complaints or issuing notices or news items which may have
adverse impact on the business prospect or the job of the
spouse and filing repeated false complaints and cases in the
14Page 15
court  against  the  spouse  would,  in  the  facts  of  a  case,
amount to causing mental cruelty to the other spouse.
15. We shall apply the above principles to the present case.
Firstly, it is necessary to have a look at the legal proceedings
initiated by both sides against each other.  The facts on
record disclose that after the marriage, due to some dispute
which  arose  between  the  elders,  both  sides  abused  and
virtually  attacked  each  other.   The  respondent-wife  was
taken  by  her  parents  to  their  house.   According  to  the
respondent-wife, her father made efforts to bring about an
amicable  settlement  but  the  other  side  did  not  respond
favourably  and,  therefore,  on  4/10/1999  she  lodged  a
complaint  with  the  Superintendent  of  Police,  Women
Protection Cell against the appellant-husband and members
of his family.   In our opinion, this complaint is, to a large
extent, responsible for widening the rift between the parties.
In this complaint, after alleging ill-treatment and harassment
for dowry, it is alleged that mother of the appellant-husband
asked the respondent-wife to sleep with the father of the
15Page 16
appellant-husband.  When  she  was  cross-examined  in  the
Family Court during the hearing of her petition for restitution
of conjugal rights the respondent-wife admitted that she had
lodged  the  complaint.  PW-2  her  mother,  in  her  cross examination
 stated that though they had asked her not to
lodge the complaint, the respondent-wife lodged it.  She told
them  that  she  had  lodged  the  complaint  because  the
appellant-husband was not listening to her.  Thus, it appears
that this complaint was lodged out of frustration and anger
and was a reaction to the appellant-husband’s refusal to live
with her.  It was, perhaps, felt by her that because of the
pressure of such a complaint the appellant-husband would
take  her  back  to  his  house.   Far  from  helping  the
respondent-wife,  the  complaint  appears  to  have  caused
irreparable  harm  to  her.   It  increased  the  bitterness.
Perhaps, the respondent-wife was misguided by someone.
But, such evidence is not on record.  Even in this court, this
complaint appears to us to be a major factor amongst others
impeding settlement.  Pursuant to the said complaint, Crime
No.8/2000  was  registered  by  C.I.D.,  Hyderabad,  in  the
16Page 17
Metropolitan Magistrate (Mahila Court), Hyderabad against
the appellant-husband and his family under Section 498-A of
the IPC.  It is the respondent-wife’s case that the appellant
husband gave an assurance before the police that he will not
harass her.  She, therefore, withdrew the complaint.  The
police  then  filed  a  closure  report.   According  to  the
respondent-wife, the appellant-husband did not abide by the
promise made by him and, therefore, she filed a protest
petition.   The  Magistrate  Court,  Hyderabad,  then,  took
cognizance  of  the  case  and  renumbered  the  case  as
C.C.No.62/2002.
16. In  the  meantime,  the  respondent-wife  filed
O.P.No.88/2001  in  the  Family  Court,  Secunderabad,  for
restitution of conjugal rights.  The appellant-husband filed a
counter claim for divorce on 27/12/2002.  The Family Court
dismissed the petition for restitution of conjugal rights and
allowed the counter claim for divorce filed by the appellant
husband.  The respondent-wife challenged the Family Court
judgment in the High Court.  On 8/12/2006 the High Court
17Page 18
reversed the Family Court’s order and allowed the petition
for restitution of conjugal rights.  The present appeal is filed
by the appellant-husband against the said judgment.
17. According to the respondent-wife, on 17/9/2007 when
she, along with her mother, came out of the court after a
case  filed  by  her  against  the  appellant-husband  was
adjourned,  the  appellant-husband  beat  her  mother  and
kicked her on her stomach.  Both of them received injuries.
She, therefore, filed complaint for the offence punishable
under Section 324 of the IPC against the appellant-husband
(C.C.No. 79/2009).  It may be stated here that on 19/10/2009
the appellant-husband was acquitted in this case.
18. On 24/6/2008 the judgment was delivered by Additional
Chief  Metropolitan  Magistrate,  Hyderabad  in  C.C.No.
62/2002.   The  appellant-husband  was  convicted  under
Section 498-A of the IPC and was sentenced to undergo six
months  simple  imprisonment.   He  and  his  parents  were
acquitted of the offences under the Dowry Prohibition Act.
18Page 19
His parents were acquitted of the offence under Section 498-
A of the IPC.  After this judgment the respondent-wife and
her parents filed a complaint in the High Court saying that
since  the  appellant-husband  was  convicted  he  should  be
dismissed from service.  Similar letters were sent to the High
Court by the maternal uncle of the respondent-wife.
19. On  14/7/2008  the  appellant-husband  filed  Criminal
Appeal No.186/2008 challenging his conviction under Section
498-A of the IPC before the Metropolitan Sessions Judge.  It is
pertinent  to  note  that  the  respondent-wife  filed  Criminal
Appeal  No.1219/2008  in  the  High  Court  questioning  the
acquittal of the appellant-husband and his parents of the
offences  under  the  Dowry  Prohibition  Act  and  also  the
acquittal  of  his  parents  of  the  offence  punishable  under
Section 498-A of the IPC.  This appeal is pending in the High
Court.  Not being content with this, the respondent-wife filed
Criminal  Revision  Case  No.1560/2008  in  the  High  Court
seeking  enhancement  of  punishment  awarded  to  the
19Page 20
appellant-husband for offence under Section 498-A of the
IPC.
20. According to the appellant-husband on 6/12/2009 the
brother  of  the  respondent-wife  came  to  their  house  and
attacked his mother.  His mother filed a complaint and the
police registered a complaint under Section 354 of the IPC.
The brother of the respondent-wife also lodged a complaint
and an offence came to be registered.  Both the cases are
pending.
21. On 29/6/2010 Criminal Appeal No. 186/2010 filed by the
appellant-husband challenging his conviction for the offence
under  Section  498-A  of  the  IPC  was  allowed  by  the
Metropolitan  Sessions  Judge  and  he  was  acquitted.   The
respondent-wife has filed criminal appeal in the High Court
challenging the said acquittal which is pending.
22. We need to now see the effect of the above events.  In
our opinion, the first instance of mental cruelty is seen in the
scurrilous, vulgar and defamatory statement made by the
20Page 21
respondent-wife in her complaint dated 4/10/1999 addressed
to the Superintendent of Police, Women Protection Cell.  The
statement that the mother of the appellant-husband asked
her to sleep with his father is bound to anger him.  It is his
case  that  this  humiliation  of  his  parents  caused  great
anguish to him.  He and his family were traumatized by the
false and indecent statement made in the complaint.  His
grievance appears to us to be justified. This complaint is a
part of the record.  It is a part of the pleadings.  That this
statement is false is evident from the evidence of the mother
of the respondent-wife, which we have already quoted.  This
statement cannot be explained away by stating that it was
made because the respondent-wife was anxious to go back
to the appellant-husband.  This is not the way to win the
husband back.  It is well settled that such statements cause
mental cruelty.  By sending this complaint the respondent
wife has caused mental cruelty to the appellant-husband.
23.     Pursuant to this complaint, the police registered a
case under Section 498-A of the IPC.  The appellant-husband
21Page 22
and his parents had to apply for anticipatory bail, which was
granted to them.  Later, the respondent-wife withdrew the
complaint.  Pursuant to the withdrawal, the police filed a
closure  report.   Thereafter,  the  respondent-wife  filed  a
protest petition.  The trial court took cognizance of the case
against  the  appellant-husband  and  his  parents  (CC  No.
62/2002).  What is pertinent to note is that the respondent
wife filed criminal appeal in the High Court challenging the
acquittal of the appellant-husband and his parents of the
offences  under  the  Dowry  Prohibition  Act  and  also  the
acquittal  of  his  parents  of  the  offence  punishable  under
Section 498-A of the IPC.   She filed criminal revision seeking
enhancement of the punishment awarded to the appellant
husband for the offence under Section 498-A of the IPC in
the High Court which is still pending.  When the criminal
appeal  filed  by  the  appellant-husband  challenging  his
conviction for the offence under Section 498-A of the IPC was
allowed  and  he  was  acquitted,  the  respondent-wife  filed
criminal  appeal  in  the  High  Court  challenging  the  said
acquittal. During this period respondent-wife and members
22Page 23
of her family have also filed complaints in the High Court
complaining about the appellant-husband so that he would
be removed from the job.  The conduct of the respondent
wife in filing a complaint 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 his
job.  We have no manner of doubt that this conduct has
caused mental cruelty to the appellant-husband.
24. In  our  opinion,  the  High  Court  wrongly  held  that
because the appellant-husband and the respondent-wife did
not stay together there is no question of the parties causing
cruelty to each other.
Staying together under the same roof
is not a pre-condition for mental cruelty.  Spouse can cause
mental cruelty by his or her conduct even while he or she is
not staying under the same roof.
In a given case, while
23Page 24
staying away,  a spouse can  cause mental cruelty to  the
other spouse by sending vulgar and defamatory letters or
notices or filing complaints containing indecent allegations
or by initiating number of judicial proceedings making the
other spouse’s life miserable.  This is what has happened in
this case.
25. It is also to be noted that the appellant-husband and
the respondent-wife are staying apart from 27/4/1999.  Thus,
they are living separately for more than ten years.  This
separation has created an unbridgeable distance between
the two.  As held in Samar Ghosh, if we refuse to sever the
tie, it may lead to mental cruelty.
26. We  are  also  satisfied  that  this  marriage  has
irretrievably broken down.  Irretrievable  breakdown  of
marriage  is  not  a  ground  for  divorce  under  the  Hindu
Marriage Act, 1955.  But, where marriage is beyond repair on
account of bitterness created by the acts of the husband or
the  wife  or  of  both,  the  courts  have  always  taken
24Page 25
irretrievable  breakdown  of  marriage  as  a  very  weighty
circumstance  amongst  others  necessitating  severance  of
marital tie.  A marriage which is dead for all purposes cannot
be  revived  by  the  court’s  verdict,  if  the  parties  are  not
willing. This is because marriage involves human sentiments
and emotions and if they are dried-up there is hardly any
chance of their springing back to life on account of artificial
reunion created by the court’s decree.
27. In V. Bhagat this Court noted that divorce petition was
pending for eight years and a good part of the lives of both
the parties had been consumed in litigation, yet the end was
not in sight.  The facts were such that there was no question
of reunion, the marriage having irretrievably broken down.
While  dissolving  the  marriage  on  the  ground  of  mental
cruelty this Court observed that irretrievable breakdown of
marriage is not a ground by itself, but, while scrutinizing the
evidence  on  record  to  determine  whether  the  grounds
alleged are made out and in determining the relief to be
granted  the  said  circumstance  can  certainly  be  borne  in
25Page 26
mind.  In Naveen Kohli, where husband and wife had been
living separately for more than 10 years and a large number
of  criminal  proceedings  had  been  initiated  by  the  wife
against the husband, this Court observed that the marriage
had been wrecked beyond the hope of salvage and public
interest and interest of all concerned lies in the recognition
of the fact and to declare  defunct de jure  what is already
defunct de facto.  It is important to note that in this case this
Court made a recommendation to the Union of India that the
Hindu  Marriage  Act,  1955  be  amended  to  incorporate
irretrievable  breakdown  of  marriage  as  a  ground  for  the
grant of divorce.
28. In the ultimate analysis, we hold that the respondent
wife  has  caused  by  her  conduct  mental  cruelty  to  the
appellant-husband and the marriage has irretrievably broken
down.  Dissolution of marriage will relieve both sides of pain
and anguish.  In this Court the respondent-wife expressed
that she wants to go back to the appellant-husband, but,
that  is  not  possible  now.   The  appellant-husband  is  not
26Page 27
willing to take her back.  Even if we refuse decree of divorce
to the appellant-husband, there are hardly any chances of
the respondent-wife leading a happy life with the appellant
husband  because  a  lot  of  bitterness  is  created  by  the
conduct of the respondent-wife.
29. In Vijay Kumar, it was submitted that if the decree of
divorce is set aside, there may be fresh avenues and scope
for reconciliation between parties.  This court observed that
judged in the background of all surrounding circumstances,
the claim appeared to be too desolate, merely born out of
despair  rather  than  based  upon  any  real,  concrete  or
genuine purpose or aim.  In the facts of this case we feel the
same.
30. While we are of the opinion that decree of divorce must
be granted, we are alive to the plight of the respondent-wife.
The appellant-husband is working as an Assistant Registrar
in the Andhra Pradesh High Court.  He is getting a good
salary.  The respondent-wife fought the litigation for more
27Page 28
than 10 years.  She appears to be entirely dependent on her
parents and on her brother, therefore, her future must be
secured  by  directing  the  appellant-husband  to  give  her
permanent alimony.  In the facts and circumstance of this
case,  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  appellant-husband
should be directed to pay a sum of Rs.15,00,000/- (Rupees
Fifteen Lakhs only) to the respondent-wife as and by way of
permanent alimony.  In the result, the impugned judgment is
quashed  and  set  aside.   The  marriage  between  the
appellant-husband - K. Srinivas Rao and the respondent-wife
-  D.A.  Deepa  is  dissolved  by  a  decree  of  divorce.   The
appellant-husband  shall  pay  to  the  respondent-wife
permanent alimony in the sum of Rs.15,00,000/-, in three
instalments.  The first instalment of Rs.5,00,000/- (Rupees
Five  Lakhs  only)  should  be  paid  on  15/03/2013  and  the
remaining amount of Rs.10,00,000/- (Rupees Ten Lakhs only)
should be paid in instalments of Rs.5,00,000/- each after a
gap  of  two  months  i.e.  on  15/05/2013  and  15/07/2013
respectively.  Each instalment of Rs.5,00,000/- be paid by a
28Page 29
demand draft drawn in favour of the respondent-wife “D.A.
Deepa”. 
31. Before parting, we wish to touch upon an issue which
needs  to  be  discussed  in  the  interest  of  victims  of
matrimonial  disputes.   Though  in  this  case,  we  have
recorded a finding that by her conduct, the respondent-wife
has caused mental cruelty to the appellant-husband, we may
not be understood, however, to have said that the fault lies
only  with  the  respondent-wife.    In  matrimonial  disputes
there is hardly any case where one spouse is entirely at
fault.   But,  then,  before  the  dispute  assumes  alarming
proportions, someone must make efforts to make parties see
reason.  In this case, if at the earliest stage, before the
respondent-wife  filed  the  complaint  making  indecent
allegation  against  her  mother-in-law,  she  were  to  be
counselled by an independent and sensible elder or if the
parties were sent to a mediation centre or if they had access
to a pre-litigation clinic, perhaps the bitterness would not
have escalated.  Things would not have come to such a pass
29Page 30
if, at the earliest, somebody had mediated between the two.
It is possible that the respondent-wife was desperate to save
the marriage.  Perhaps, in desperation, she lost balance and
went  on  filing  complaints.   It  is  possible  that  she  was
misguided.   Perhaps,  the  appellant-husband  should  have
forgiven her indiscretion in filing complaints in the larger
interest of matrimony.  But, the way the respondent-wife
approached the problem was wrong.  It portrays a vindictive
mind.  She caused extreme mental cruelty to the appellant
husband.  Now the marriage is beyond repair.
32. Quite often, the cause of the misunderstanding in a
matrimonial dispute is trivial and can be sorted. Mediation as
a  method  of  alternative  dispute  resolution  has  got  legal
recognition  now.   We  have  referred  several  matrimonial
disputes to mediation centres.  Our experience shows that
about 10 to 15% of matrimonial disputes get settled in this
Court through various mediation centres.  We, therefore, feel
that at the earliest stage i.e. when the dispute is taken up by
the Family Court or by the court of first instance for hearing,
30Page 31
it  must  be  referred  to  mediation  centres.   Matrimonial
disputes  particularly  those  relating  to  custody  of  child,
maintenance, etc. are preeminently fit for mediation. Section
9 of the Family Courts Act enjoins upon the Family Court to
make efforts to settle the matrimonial disputes and in these
efforts, Family Courts are assisted by Counsellors.  Even if
the Counsellors fail in their efforts, the Family Courts should
direct  the  parties  to  mediation  centres,  where  trained
mediators are appointed to mediate between the parties.
Being trained in the skill of mediation, they produce good
results.  
33. The idea of pre-litigation mediation is also catching up.
Some mediation centres have, after giving wide publicity, set
up “Help Desks” at prominent places including facilitation
centres  at  court  complexes  to  conduct  pre-litigation
mediation.   We  are  informed  that  in  Delhi  Government
Mediation and Conciliation Centres, and in Delhi High Court
Mediation Centre, several matrimonial disputes are settled.
These  centres  have  a  good  success  rate  in  pre-litigation
31Page 32
mediation.   If  all  mediation  centres  set  up  pre-litigation
desks/clinics by giving sufficient publicity and matrimonial
disputes  are  taken  up  for  pre-litigation  settlement,  many
families will be saved of hardship if, at least, some of them
are settled.  
34. While  purely  a  civil  matrimonial  dispute  can  be
amicably settled by a Family Court either by itself or by
directing the parties to explore the possibility of settlement
through mediation,
a complaint under Section 498-A of the
IPC  presents  difficulty  because  the  said  offence  is  not
compoundable except in the State of Andhra Pradesh where
by a State amendment, it has been made compoundable.
Though  in  Ramgopal  &  Anr.   v.   State  of  Madhya
   Pradesh & Anr.
8
  , this Court requested the Law Commission
and the Government of India to examine whether offence
punishable under Section 498-A of the IPC could be made
compoundable, it has not been made compoundable as yet.
The  courts  direct  parties  to  approach  mediation  centres
8
 (2010) 13 SCC 540
32Page 33
where  offences  are  compoundable.   Offence  punishable
under  Section  498-A  being  a  non-compoundable  offence,
such a course is not followed in respect thereof.  This Court
has always adopted a positive approach  and encouraged
settlement  of matrimonial disputes and discouraged their
escalation.
 In this connection, we must refer to the relevant
paragraph from G.V. Rao  v. L.H.V. Prasad & Ors.
9
, where
the  complaint  appeared  to  be  the  result  of  matrimonial
dispute,  while  refusing to  interfere  with  the  High  Court’s
order quashing the complaint, this court made very pertinent
observations, which read thus:
“12. There has been an outburst of matrimonial disputes in
recent  times.  Marriage  is  a  sacred  ceremony,  the  main
purpose of which is to enable the young couple to settle
down  in  life  and  live  peacefully.  But  little  matrimonial
skirmishes  suddenly  erupt  which  often  assume  serious
proportions  resulting  in  commission  of  heinous  crimes  in
which elders of the family are also involved with the result
that those who could have counselled and brought about
rapprochement  are  rendered  helpless  on  their  being
arrayed as accused in the criminal case. There are many
other reasons which need not be mentioned here for not
encouraging matrimonial litigation so that the parties may
ponder  over  their  defaults  and  terminate  their  disputes
amicably by mutual agreement instead of fighting it out in
a court of law where it takes years and years to conclude
and in that process the parties lose their “young” days in
chasing their “cases” in different courts.”
9
 (2000) 3 SCC 693
33Page 34
In    B.S. Joshi & Ors.  v.  State of Haryana & Anr.
10
  ,
after referring to the above observations, this Court stated
that the said observations are required to be kept in view by
courts while dealing with matrimonial disputes and held that
complaint involving offence under Section 498-A of the IPC
can be quashed by the High Court in exercise of its powers
under  Section  482 of the Code if the parties settle their
dispute.   Even in  Gian  Singh   v.   State  of  Punjab  &
Anr.
11
,  this  Court  expressed  that  certain  offences  which
overwhelmingly  and  predominantly  bear  civil  flavour  like
those  arising  out  of  matrimony,  particularly  relating  to
dowry, etc. or the family dispute and where the offender and
the victim had settled all disputes between them amicably,
irrespective of the fact that such offences have not been
made compoundable, the High Court may quash the criminal
proceedings if it feels that by not quashing the same, the
ends of justice shall be defeated.
10
 AIR 2003 SC 1386
11
 (2012) 10 SCC 303
34Page 35
35. We,  therefore,  feel  that  though  offence  punishable
under  Section  498-A  of  the  IPC  is  not  compoundable,  in
appropriate cases if the parties are willing and if it appears
to the criminal court that there exist elements of settlement,
it  should  direct  the  parties  to  explore  the  possibility  of
settlement  through  mediation.   This  is,  obviously,  not  to
dilute the rigour, efficacy and purport of Section 498-A of the
IPC, but to locate cases where the matrimonial dispute can
be nipped in bud in an equitable manner.  The judges, with
their expertise, must ensure that this exercise does not lead
to the erring spouse using mediation process to get out of
clutches of the law. During mediation, the parties can either
decide to part company on mutually agreed terms or they
may decide to patch up and stay together.  In either case for
the settlement to come through, the complaint will have to
be quashed.  In that event, they can approach the High
Court and get the complaint quashed.  If however they chose
not to settle, they can proceed with the complaint.  In this
exercise, there is no loss to anyone. If there is settlement,
the parties will be saved from the trials and tribulations of a
35Page 36
criminal case and that will reduce the burden on the courts
which will be in the larger public interest.  Obviously, the
High Court will quash the complaint only if after considering
all circumstances it finds the settlement to be equitable and
genuine.  Such a course, in our opinion, will be beneficial to
those  who  genuinely  want  to  accord  a  quietus  to  their
matrimonial disputes.  We would, however, like to clarify that
reduction of burden of cases on the courts will, however, be
merely an incidental benefit and not the reason for sending
the parties for mediation.  We recognize ‘mediation’ as an
effective  method  of  alternative  dispute  resolution  in
matrimonial matters and that is the reason why we want the
parties  to  explore  the  possibility  of  settlement  through
mediation in matrimonial disputes.
36. We,  therefore,  issue
directions,  which  the  courts
dealing with the matrimonial matters shall follow: 
(a) In terms of Section 9 of the Family Courts Act, the
Family  Courts  shall  make  all  efforts  to  settle  the
matrimonial disputes through mediation.  Even if the
36Page 37
Counsellors submit a failure report, the Family Courts
shall,  with  the  consent  of  the  parties,  refer  the
matter  to  the  mediation  centre.   In  such  a  case,
however, the Family Courts shall set a reasonable
time  limit  for  mediation  centres  to  complete  the
process  of  mediation  because  otherwise  the
resolution of the disputes by the Family Court may
get delayed. In a given case, if there is good chance
of settlement, the Family Court in its discretion, can
always extend the time limit. 
  
(b) The criminal courts dealing with the complaint under
Section 498-A of the IPC should, at any stage and
particularly, before they take up the complaint for
hearing, refer the parties to mediation centre if they
feel that there exist elements of settlement and both
the parties are willing.  However, they should take
care to see that in this exercise, rigour, purport and
efficacy of Section 498-A of the IPC is not diluted.
Needless to say that the discretion to grant or not to
37Page 38
grant  bail  is  not  in  any  way  curtailed  by  this
direction. It will be for the concerned court to work
out the modalities taking into consideration the facts
of each case. 
(c) All  mediation  centres  shall  set  up  pre-litigation
desks/clinics;  give  them  wide  publicity  and  make
efforts to settle matrimonial disputes at pre-litigation
stage. 
37. The appeal is disposed of in the aforestated terms. 
……………………………………………..J.
     (AFTAB ALAM)
……………………………………………..J.
                                      (RANJANA PRAKASH DESAI)
NEW DELHI,
FEBRUARY 22, 2013.
38