# DHARMENDRA KUMAR v. USHA KUMAR

- **Citation:** [1978] 1 S.C.R. 315
- **Court:** Supreme Court of India
- **Decided:** 1977-08-19
- **Case number:** Civil Appeal No. 949 of 1977
- **Bench:** A. C. GUPTA ANDS. MURTAZA FAZAL Au
- **Source:** https://unisonlegal.in/judgment/supreme-court-of-india/dharmendra-kumar-v-usha-kumar-7278
- **Pages:** 4

## Headnote

315
Hindu Marrial{e Act 1955-Section 13(1A)(ii).-23(1)(a)-lf divorce can
be nbtained for absence of restitution of conjugal rights after decree for restitution is granted by ai person who refuses to have restitution-Whether such
a
conduct amounts to a wrong within the nzeaning of sec. 23(1)(a) of the Act.
The respondent-wife was granted a decree for restitution of conjugal right&
on her application under s. 9 of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
by
Additional
Senior Sub-Judge, Delhi, on 27th August 1973.
On 28th October 1975,
the
respodent presented a petition under s. 13(IA) (ii) of the Act in the Court
of Additional District Judge, Delhi for dissolution of the marriage by a decree
of divorce-stating therein that there had been no restitution
of
conjugal
rights between the parties after the passing of the. decree for restitution of
conjugal rights. The appellant-husband, in his written statement admitted that
there had been no restitution of conjugal rights, between the parties after the
passing of the decree in earlier proceedings, but stated that he made attempts
to comply with the decree dated 27th August 77 by writing several registered
letters inviting the respondent to live with him to which, according to
him.
she never replied.
The husband contended that she herself
prevented
the
restitution of conjugal rights and was making a capital out of her own wrong
which she was not entitled to do.
HELD : No circumstance has been alleged in the instant case from which
it could be said that the respondent was trying to take advantage of her own
wrong. Section 13(1A)(ii) of Hindu Marriage Act 1955 allows either party
to a marriage to present a petition for dissolution of the marriage by a decree
of divorce on the ground that there has been no restitution of conjugal rights
as between the parties to the marriage for the period specified, in the provision
after the passing of the decree for restitution of conjugal rights. Sub-section (lA)
was introduced in section 13 by section 2 of Hindu ~farriage (Amendment) Act
1964. Section 13 as it stocxl before the 1964 amendment permitted only the
spouse who had obtained the decree for restitution of conjugal rights to apply
for relief by way of divorce. The p3!rty against whom the decree was passea
was not given that right. The relief which is available to the spouse
against
whom a decree for restitution of conjugal- rights has been passed cannot reasonably be denied to the one who does not insist on compliance with the decree
passed in his or her favour.
Jn order to be 3! ''wrong" within the meaning ot
s. 23(1) (a) the conduct alleged has to be something more than a mere disinclination to agree to an offer of reunion, it must be misconduct serious enough
to justify denial of the relief to which the husband or the wife is otherwise
entitled. Mere non-compliance with a decree for restitution does not constitute
\vrong within the meaning of section 23(1)(a). [3170-G]

## Text

DHARMENDRA KUMAR
v.
USHA KUMAR
August 19, 1977
[A. C. GUPTA ANDS. MURTAZA FAZAL Au, JJ.]
315
Hindu Marrial{e Act 1955-Section 13(1A)(ii).-23(1)(a)-lf divorce can
be nbtained for absence of restitution of conjugal rights after decree for restitution is granted by ai person who refuses to have restitution-Whether such
a
conduct amounts to a wrong within the nzeaning of sec. 23(1)(a) of the Act.
The respondent-wife was granted a decree for restitution of conjugal right&
on her application under s. 9 of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
by
Additional
Senior Sub-Judge, Delhi, on 27th August 1973.
On 28th October 1975,
the
respodent presented a petition under s. 13(IA) (ii) of the Act in the Court
of Additional District Judge, Delhi for dissolution of the marriage by a decree
of divorce-stating therein that there had been no restitution
of
conjugal
rights between the parties after the passing of the. decree for restitution of
conjugal rights. The appellant-husband, in his written statement admitted that
there had been no restitution of conjugal rights, between the parties after the
passing of the decree in earlier proceedings, but stated that he made attempts
to comply with the decree dated 27th August 77 by writing several registered
letters inviting the respondent to live with him to which, according to
him.
she never replied.
The husband contended that she herself
prevented
the
restitution of conjugal rights and was making a capital out of her own wrong
which she was not entitled to do.
HELD : No circumstance has been alleged in the instant case from which
it could be said that the respondent was trying to take advantage of her own
wrong. Section 13(1A)(ii) of Hindu Marriage Act 1955 allows either party
to a marriage to present a petition for dissolution of the marriage by a decree
of divorce on the ground that there has been no restitution of conjugal rights
as between the parties to the marriage for the period specified, in the provision
after the passing of the decree for restitution of conjugal rights. Sub-section (lA)
was introduced in section 13 by section 2 of Hindu ~farriage (Amendment) Act
1964. Section 13 as it stocxl before the 1964 amendment permitted only the
spouse who had obtained the decree for restitution of conjugal rights to apply
for relief by way of divorce. The p3!rty against whom the decree was passea
was not given that right. The relief which is available to the spouse
against
whom a decree for restitution of conjugal- rights has been passed cannot reasonably be denied to the one who does not insist on compliance with the decree
passed in his or her favour.
Jn order to be 3! ''wrong" within the meaning ot
s. 23(1) (a) the conduct alleged has to be something more than a mere disinclination to agree to an offer of reunion, it must be misconduct serious enough
to justify denial of the relief to which the husband or the wife is otherwise
entitled. Mere non-compliance with a decree for restitution does not constitute
\vrong within the meaning of section 23(1)(a). [3170-G]
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 949 of 1977.
Appeal by Special Leave from the Judgment and Order dated
19-10-1976 of the Delhi High Court in F.A.O., No. 170 of 1976.
Naunit Lal, R. K. Baweja and Miss Lalita Kohli, for t11e Appellant.
S. L. Watel, C. R. Somasekharan, R. Watl:'l and M. S. Ganesh, for
the Respondent.
The following Judgment of the Court was delivered by
GUPTA, J.-On her application made under section 9 of the HiJ?du
Marriage Act, 1955, the respondent was granted a decree for res!1tution of conjugal rights by the Additional Senior Sub-Judge, Delhi on
A
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316
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[1978] 1 S.C.R.
August 27, 1973. A little over two years after that decree was passed,
on October 28, 1975 she presented a petition under section 13(1A) (ii)
of ·.he Act in the Court of the Addi'.ional District Judge, Delhi, for the
dissolution of the marriage hy a decree of divorce. Section 13(1A) (ii)
as it stood at the material time reads :
"Either party to a marriage, whether solemnized before
or after the commencement of this Act, may also present a
petition for the dissolution of the marriage by a decree of
divorce on the ground-
(i)
x
x
x
(ii) that there has been no restitution of conjugal rights as
between the parties to the marriage for a period of
two years or upwards after the passing of a decree for
restitution of conjugal rights in a proceeding to which
they were parties.
The provision was amended in 1976 reducing the period of two years
to one year, but this amendment is not relevant to the present contra-·
versy.
In the petition under section 13(1A) (ii) she-we shall here·
D
inafter refer to her as the petitioner-stated that there had been no
restitution of conjugal rights between the parties to the marriage after
the passing of the decree for restitution of conjugal rights and that
there was no other legal ground why the relief prayed for should not
be granted. Her husband, the appellant before us,
in h's written
statement admitted that there had been no restitution of conjugal rights
between the parties after the passing of the decree in the earlier proE
ceeding, but stated that he made attempts "to comply with the decree
(for restitution of conjugal rights) by writing several registered letters
to the petitioner" and "otherwise" inviting her to Jive with him. He
complained that the peNioner "refused to receive some of the letters
and never replied to those which she received", and according to him
the petitioner "has herself prevented the restitution of conjugal rights
she prayed for and now seeks to make a capital out of her own wrong".
F
The objection taken in the written statement is apparently based on
section 23(l)(a) of the Act. The relevant part of section 23(1)(a)
states :'
G
Decree in proceedings.
"23. (1) In any proceeding under this Act,
whether
defended or not, if 'he court is satisfied that-
(a) any of the grounds for granting relief exists and the
petitioner ........ is not in any way taking advantage
of
h's or her own wrong or disability for the purpose of such
relief ...... "
On the pleadings the following issue was raised as issue No. 1 :
H
"Whether the petitioner is not in any way taking advantage of her own wrong for the reasons given in the written
l\latement ?"
'
DHARMENDRA v. USHA (Gupta, !.)
317
Subsequently the following additional issue was also framed :
A
"Whether the objection covered by issue No. 1 is open
to the respondent under the law ?"
This additional issue was heard as a preliminary issue. The Additional
District Judge, Delhi, who heard the matter, relying on a Full Bench
decision of the Delhi High Court reported in I.LR. (1971) I Delhi 6,
B
(Ram Kali v. Go pal Dass), and a later decision of a learned single
Judge of that court reported in I.L.R. (1Q76) I Delhi 725, (Gajna
Devi v. Purshotam Giri) held that no such circumstance has been
alleged in the instant case from which it could be said that the petitioner was trying to take advantage of her own wrong and, therefore,
the objection covered by issue No. 1 was not available to the respondent
The Additional District Judge accordingly allowed the petition c
and granted the petitioner a decree of divorce a:s prayed for.
An
appeal from this decision taken by the husband was summarily dismissed by the Delhi High Court.
Iu the
present appeal the
husband
questions the validity of the decree of divorce granted in favour of the
petitioner.
Section 13(1A) (ii) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 allows either
D
party to a marriage to present a petition for the dissolution of the
marriage by a decree of <livorce on the ground that there has been no
restitution of conjugal rights as between the parties to the marriage
for the period specified in the provision after the passing of the decree
for restitution of conjugal rights.
Sub-section (lA) was introduced
in section 13 by section 2 of the Hindu Marriage (Amendment) Act,
1964 ( 44 of 1964). Section 13 as it stood bef0re the 1964 amendE
ment permitted only the spouse who had obtained the decree for restitution of conjugal rights to apply for relief by way of divorce; the party
against whom the decree wa·s passed was not given that right.
The
grounds for granting relief under section 13 including sub-section (lA)
however continue to be subiect to the provisions of section 23 of tho
Act. We have quoted above the part of section 23 relevant for the
present purpose. It is contended by the appellant that the allegation
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made in his written statement that the conduct of the petitioner in not
responding to his invitations to live with him meant that she was trying
to take advantage of her own wrong for the purpose of relief under
8Pdion 13(1A) <ii)
On the admitted facts, the petitioner was undoubtedly entitled to ask for a decrer of divorce. Would the allegation, if true, that she did not respond to her husband's invtation to
come and live with him disentitle her to the relief ? We do not find it
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possible to hold that it would.
In Ram Kali's case (supra) a Full
Bench of the Delhi High Court held that mere non-compliance with
the decree for restitution does not constitute a wrong within the meaning of section 23(1)(a). Relving on and explaining this decision in
the later case of Gaina Devi v. Purshotam Giri (supra) a learned Judge
of the same High Court observed :
"Section 23 existed in the statute book prior to the insertion of section 13(1A) ..... Had Parliament intended that
a party which is guilty of a matrimonial offence and against
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318
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[1978] 1 S.C.R·
which a decree for judicial separatiou or restitution of conjugal rights had been passed, was in view of section 23 of the
Act, not entitled to obtain divorce, then it would have inserted
an exception to section 13 (IA) and with such exception, the
provision of section 13 (I A) would practically become redundant as the guilty party could never reap benefit of obtaining divorce, while the innocent party was entitled to obtain it
even under the statute as it was before the amendment. Section 23 of the Act, therefore, cannot be construed so as to
make the effect of amendment of the law by insertion of section 13 (I A) nugatory .
. . . . . . . . the expression "Petitioner is not in any way
taking advantage of his or her own wrong" occurring in
clause(a) of section 23(1) of the Act does not apply to
taking advantage of the statutory right to obtain dissolution
of marriage which has been conferred on him by section
13(1A) .. In such a case, a party is not taking advantage of
his own wrong, but of the legal right following upon of the
passing of the decree and the failure of the parties to comply
with the decree .......... "
In our opinion the law has been stated correctly in Ram Kali v. Gop<1l
Das (supra) aud Gajna Devi v. Purshotam Giri (supra). Therefore,
it would not be very reasonable to think that the relief which is available to the spouse against whom a .decree for restitution has bce11.
passed, should be denied to the one who does not insist on compliance
with the decree passed in his or her favour. In order to be a 'wrong'
within the meaning of section 23 ( 1) (a) the conduct alleged has to be
liOmething more than a mere disinclination to agree to an offer of.
reunion, it must be misconduct serious enough to justify denial of the
relief to which the husband or the wife is otherwise entitled.
In the case before us the only allegation made in the written statement is that the petitioner refused to receive or reply to the letters
written by the appellant and did not respond to his other attempts to
make her agree to live with him.
This allegation, even if true, doei
not amount to misconduct grave enou~h to disentitle the petitioner to
the relief she has asked for.
The appeal is therefore dismissed but
without any order as to costs.
.
P.H.P.
Appeal dismiss~d.