CMA/4228/2019 of A.N.SHYAM SUNDAR Vs S.NANTHINI on 11 September 2026

JUDGMENT

(Judgment of the Court was delivered by P.T.Asha J.) The total non-application of mind on the part of the learned Family Court Judge, Erode, is evident in his order dated 21.08.2019 in F.C.O.P.No.362 of 2018.

2. The petition in F.C.O.P.No.362 of 2018 was filed by the respondent- wife seeking divorce on the ground of cruelty. Several allegations regarding cruelty had been set out in the petition. These allegations were denied by the appellant-husband in his counter. The respondent-wife was represented by his mother as Power Agent, before the Family Court, Erode.

3. Pending the proceedings, it appears that the parties have resolved the dispute and the respondent-wife as P.W.1 has also agreed before the Family Judge that the decree for divorce be granted eschewing the allegations of cruelty. However, despite such evidence, the learned Judge has proceeded to grant a decree for divorce on the grounds of cruelty. Thus, aggrieved the respondent-husband is before this Court.

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CMA No. 4228 of 2019

4. Heard the learned counsel on either side and also perused the materials available on record.

5. In her cross-examination as P.W.1, she has submitted as follows : "///gpwF fhty ; epiyaj;jpy ; ehd ; vd;Dila fzth ; kw;Wk; khkpahh; kPJ g[fhh; bfhLj;J gpwF v';fSf;Fs; rkhjhdk; Mdjhy; ehd; g[fhiu thg!; bgw;Wf; bfhz;nld;/ jpUkzj;jpd; gadhf v';fSf;Fs; FHe;ij ,y;iy/ vdf;F nruntz;oa bghUl;fs ; midj;Jk ; ehd; vjph;kDjhuhplkpUe;J jpUk;g bgw;Wf ; bfhz;nld/ mnjnghy; vjph;kDjhuUf;F bfhLf;f ntz;oa bghUl;fs; midj;ija[k; mtUf;F bfhLj;J tpl;nld;/ ehDk ; vjph;kDjhuUk ; nkw;bfhz;L nrh;e;J thH rhj;jpaf; TWfs; ,y;iy/ ,Ujug;g[ bghpnahh;fs; kw;Wk; g";rhaj;jhuh;fs; K:yk; ngrpa[k; gyd; ,y;iy/ vjph;kDjhuh; kPJ ehd; kDtpYk;. gpukhz thf;FK:yj;jpYk; Twpa[s;s Fw;wr;rhl;Lfisj; jtph;j;J tpthfuj;J ghpfhuk; tH';Ftjpy; vdf;F vt;tpj Ml;nrgiza[k; ,y;iy/"

6. A reading of the above would clearly show that the parties have exchanged their articles and they have come to the conclusion that it would be

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impossible for them to reconcile and live together. She has also stated that she be granted a decree for simpliciter without a decree being the one on the ground of cruelty. However, the learned Judge has proceeded to observe as follows :

8. ,e;j NH;epiyapy; vjph;kDjhuh; ePjpkd;wj;jpy; mtuJ jhahh; K:ykhf gth; gj;jpuk; vGjp bfhLj;J mtuJ jhahh; kl;Lnk M$uhdhh;/ ePjkd;wk ; njitg;gLk ; nghJ vjph;kDjhuh ; M$uhfntz;Lk ; vd;w epge;jida[ld; fl;lis 2 tpjp 3 d; fPH; kD mDkjpf;fg;gl;lJ/ Mdhy; kDtpy ; rhl;rpakspf;f vjph;kDjhuh ; ePjpkd;wj;jpy ; M$uhftpy;iy/ mth; jug;gpy ; rhl;rpak ; vJt[k ; ,y;iybad;W typa[Wj;jg;gl;L vjph;kDjhuhpd; rhl;rpak ; Kof;fg;gl;lJ/ kDjhuuJ rhl;rpaj;jpd ; K:ykhf vjph;kDjhuh;. KdjhuUld ; nrh;e;J ,y;yw thH;f;ifapy ; <Lglhky ; jtph;j;J te;jhh; vd;gJk;. vjph;kDjhuhpd; bgw;nwhUk; vjph;kDjhuUk;. Kdjhuhpd; tPl;lhhplk; U:/10.00.000-? nfl;L mij mth;fs ; bfhLf;Fk ; tiu vjph;kDjhuh; kDjhuUld; nrh;e;J thH KoahJ vd;W eph;ge;jpj;jdh; vd;Wk;. btsp ehl;oy; kDjhuh; ntiy bra;J rk;ghjpj;jg;gzj;ija[k;. th';fpf;bfhz;L kDjhuiu.

kdjstpy ; bfhLikg;gLj;jpa[s;shh;fs ; vd;gJk; epU:gpf;fg;gl;Ls;sJ/ vdnt kDjhuh; kPJ tptfhuj;jJ nfhhp kD jhf;fy; bra;tjw;fhd fhuzk ; Fwpj;J Twpa[s;sij vjph;kDjhuh ; jdJ rhl;rpaj;jpd ; K:ykhf vjph;j;Jiuf;fhfjjhy ; vjpUiuapy ; fz;Ls;s tptu';fis kl;Lk; itj;J kDjhuh; jhd; fhuzkpd;wp vjph;kDjhuiu tpl;L gphpe;J te;jhh; vd;W vjph;kDjhuh; jug;gpy; Twg;gl;Ls;s Tw;w Vw;f ,ayhJ vd;W ,e;ePjpkd;wk; fUJfpwJ/ vdnt. kDjhuiu vjph;kDjhuh; kdhPjpahf bfhLikg;gLj;jpa[s;shh ; vd;gJ kDjhuh ; jug;gpy; epU:gpf;fg;gl;Ls;sJ vd;W ,e;ePjpkd;wk; jPh;khdpf;fpwJ/

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CMA No. 4228 of 2019

9/ nkYk ; k/rh/1 jdJ rhl;rpaj;jpy ; vjph;kDjhuh ; kPJk;. vjph;kDjhuhpd ; jhahh ; kPJk ; bfhLj;j g[fhiu mth;fSf;Fs; rkhjhdkhdjhy ; thg! ; bgw;Wf;bfhs;tjhft[k;. jpUkzj;jpd ; gadhf FHe;ijfs ; ,y;iybad;Wk;. mnjnghy ; vjph;kDjhuUf;F nruntz;oa bghUl;fs; kDjhuhplk; ,y;iybad;Wk; nkw;bfhz;L nrh;e;J thH;tjw;fhd rhj;jpaf;Twfs ; ,y;iy vd;gij mth;fsJ nkw;fz;l bray;ghLfspd; K:yk; mwpaf;Toa NH;epiyapYk;. jpUkz ge;jk; gadw;W fhzf;Toa NH;epiyapYk;. jug;gpdh;fspd; taJ. jug;gpdh;fspd; vjph;fhy ey;thH;f;if. Mfpatw;iw fUj;jpy; bfhz;L kDjhuh; nfhhpathW jpUkzj;ij uj;J bra;tJ ePjpapd; thy; cfe;jJ vd;W ,e;ePjpkd;wk; jPh;khdpf;fpwJ/ and ultimately, by the impugned order dated 21.08.2019, the learned Judge had dissolved the marriage under Section 13(1)(ia) on the ground of cruelty and not on the basis of the respondent's oral evidence.

7. Once the parties have arrived at a consensus and the petitioner-wife has also conceded to a decree for divorce being granted, eschewing the allegations of cruelty, the order of the Family Court, granting the decree for divorce on the ground of cruelty, is totally misconceived. Therefore, the decree for divorce inter alia dissolving the marriage between the appellant herein and the respondent dated 19.01.2017, on the ground of cruelty, cannot be sustained. However, the same has to be modified based on the consensus of the parties,

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whereby both agreed for the dissolution of the marriage sans the allegation of cruelty.

8. In the result, the appeal is allowed, the order of the Family Court, Erode, insofar as the order dissolving the marriage between the parties on the ground of cruelty alone is set aside. No costs. (P.T.A.,J.) (N.M.,J.) 11-09-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No DS

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To:

1. The Family Court Erode.

2. The Section Officer VR Section High Court, Madras.

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P.T.ASHA J. AND N.MALA J. DS CMA No. 4228 of 2019 11-09-2026

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