{"id":349997,"date":"2025-06-06T17:30:13","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T12:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=349997"},"modified":"2025-06-07T16:51:52","modified_gmt":"2025-06-07T11:21:52","slug":"andhra-pradesh-high-court-false-498a-mental-cruelty-divorce-ap-high-court-legal-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/06\/06\/andhra-pradesh-high-court-false-498a-mental-cruelty-divorce-ap-high-court-legal-news\/","title":{"rendered":"False 498-A complaint and acquittal amount to \u2018mental Cruelty\u2019: Andhra Pradesh High Court affirms divorce after 29 years of separation"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Andhra Pradesh High Court<\/span> : An appeal was filed by the appellant (wife) against respondent (husband) challenging the decree of divorce dated 08-05-2006, passed by the Principal Senior Civil Judge, Guntur, under Sections <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001543733\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">13(1)(ia)<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001543733\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">13(1)(ib)<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726956\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hindu Marriage Act, 1955<\/a>, on the grounds of cruelty and desertion contending that the Trial Court erred in concluding that she had treated the respondent with cruelty. A divison bench of Ravinath Tilhari and Challa Gunaranjan, JJ., upheld the divorce in view of false implication in criminal case amounted to mental cruelty and furnished a ground for divorce under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001543733\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">13(1)(ia)<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726956\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hindu Marriage Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court stated, \u201cthe criminal cases filed by wife to embarrass and incarcerate the husband, and his family members cause persistent trauma, humiliation in social circle which amount to mental cruelty under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001543733\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">13(1)(ia)<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726956\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hindu Marriage Act, 1955<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The factual foundation of the case traces back to the marriage solemnized on 13-08-1994, in Bapatla, performed according to Hindu rites and customs. The husband was working as a lecturer in Tirupati, while the wife, a graduate, resided with her parents. The marriage was claimed to be without dowry. The husband alleged that just three days after marriage, the wife expressed unwillingness towards the marriage and began exhibiting abnormal behavior. Her frequent departures from the matrimonial home, on the pretext of employment, her non-participation in conjugal life, and conduct which caused mental distress were cited as acts of cruelty. He also mentioned failed attempts at reconciliation and mediations, which he claimed were obstructed by her demand for money. Ultimately, this led him to seek divorce.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">In her counter, the wife refuted all allegations of cruelty and desertion. She counter alleged that the husband had, in fact, demanded dowry and subjected her to harassment. She asserted that they had cohabited, and she had fulfilled all her matrimonial obligations while maintaining a job. She maintained that the marriage was consummated and that the husband\u2019s introduction of another man\u2019s name was a deliberate attempt to malign her character. She also emphasized her continuous willingness to resume matrimonial life and highlighted her letter dated 01-01-2001 to that effect, which the husband had responded to with false allegations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Trial Court, while framing two primary issues\u2014(i) whether the petitioner was entitled to divorce and (ii) the relief to be granted, held that the relationship had irretrievably broken down. While the husband could not prove the allegation of illicit relationship, the Court found the filing of a criminal complaint under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561850\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">498-A<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IPC<\/a> by the wife against the husband and his parents, leading to their arrest and subsequent acquittal, to be an act of mental cruelty. It also emphasized the long period of separation (29 years) and the impossibility of restoration of the matrimonial bond, thereby granting the divorce.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court noted that the central issue for determination was whether the filing of a criminal complaint by the wife under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561850\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">498-A<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IPC<\/a> and Sections <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001546433\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">3<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001546434\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">4<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002808049\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dowry Prohibition Act<\/a>, leading to arrest and judicial proceedings which culminated in acquittal, could amount to &#8220;mental cruelty&#8221; under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001543733\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">13(1)(ia)<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726956\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hindu Marriage Act, 1955<\/a>, so as to justify the decree of divorce granted by the trial court.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court observed that the Trial Court had rightly concluded that while most of the allegations raised by the husband were unsubstantiated, the solitary fact of the wife initiating criminal proceedings, wherein the husband and his family were arrested, remanded, and later acquitted was sufficient to constitute mental cruelty. The Court agreed with this approach and emphasized that the acquittal in the criminal case, when read in the context of false allegations and the trauma endured, constituted an act of cruelty.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court stated that the act and conduct of the wife in filing the criminal complaint in under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561850\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">498-A<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IPC<\/a> against the husband and his parents in which they had to obtain bail and were finally acquitted as the allegations were not proved was a conduct causing mental cruelty, and agony to the husband. It was further held that such conduct amounted to mental cruelty and furnished as grounds for divorce under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001543733\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">13(1) (ia)<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726956\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hindu Marriage Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court relied on <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">K. Srinivas v. K. Sunita<\/span>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/8ze5Fo8G\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(2014) 16 SCC 34<\/a> to underscore that cruelty can occur even without physical proximity. The Court observed that &#8220;staying together under the same roof is not a pre-condition for mental cruelty,&#8221; and that &#8220;filing complaints containing indecent allegations or initiating judicial proceedings making the other spouse\u2019s life miserable&#8221; can, by itself, constitute cruelty.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court remarked quoting from <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Naveen Kohli v. Neelu Kohli<\/span>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/SGhs5n2b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(2006) 4 SCC 558<\/a> that \u201cmental cruelty must be of such a nature that the parties cannot reasonably be expected to live together.\u201d It went on to explain that cruelty must be assessed contextually, and a sustained course of false litigation initiated maliciously, leading to social embarrassment and psychological distress, clearly falls within its ambit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court further noted that the parties had been living separately for nearly three decades, which reinforced the finding that the matrimonial bond was beyond repair. Though the wife had, during the appellate proceedings, expressed a willingness to resume matrimonial life, the Court found it to be a belated assertion that did not reflect the ground realities. The husband had consistently maintained that reconciliation was not possible in light of past trauma and persistent litigation as the husband and his family were falsely implicated and later acquitted, with no evidence proving the allegations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court held that the findings of the Trial Court did not suffer any legal infirmity and that the decree of divorce was based on a well-reasoned application of law and judicial precedent. It found no justification to interfere with the decree.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Thus, the Court held that the ground of \u2018cruelty\u2019 under Section 13(1)(ia) was established to grant divorce. There is no illegality in the decree of divorce granted by the learned Trial Court. The same calls for no interference and is affirmed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Accordingly, the appeal was dismissed, affirming the divorce decree, with no order as to costs.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">[<span style=\"font-weight: bold; color: #632423;\"># v. $, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/n4hJ2OHi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2025 SCC OnLine AP 1929<\/a>, decided on 07-05-2025<\/span>]<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Advocates who appeared in this case:<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Counsel for the appellant:<\/span> Sri Rama Rao Kochiri<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Counsel for the respondent:<\/span> Sri Lakshminarayana Reddy<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #000080;\">Buy Penal Code, 1860 \u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1158\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1158\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-294601\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"penal code, 1860\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-440x293.jpg 440w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-650x433.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860.jpg 886w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-60x40.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;The ill conduct must be persistent for a 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.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67516,"featured_media":315000,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[81457,77074,83152,83153,76775,83037,82687],"class_list":["post-349997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-casebriefs","category-highcourts","tag-498aipc","tag-andhrapradeshhighcourt","tag-divorcelaw","tag-falsecriminalcase","tag-familylaw","tag-hindumarriageact","tag-mentalcruelty"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site 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and unsubstantiated allegations of adultery amount to cruelty offering a ground for divorce","author":"Sucheta","date":"August 7, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Himachal Pradesh High Court- While deciding the present divorce matter wherein repeated false and frivolous allegation of adultery were made by the appellant wife against the respondent husband, a bench of Sanjay Karol, J., held that the said allegations were made out of vengeance and were unverified and unsubstantiated. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;High Courts&quot;","block_context":{"text":"High Courts","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/highcourts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/scc-blog_Page_9.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/scc-blog_Page_9.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/scc-blog_Page_9.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/scc-blog_Page_9.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/scc-blog_Page_9.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":219994,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2019\/09\/26\/utt-hc-cruelty-can-never-be-defined-with-exactitude-and-mental-cruelty-cannot-be-established-by-direct-evidence-divorce-granted-as-husbands-narration-proved-mental-cruelty\/","url_meta":{"origin":349997,"position":1},"title":"Utt HC | \u2018Cruelty can never be defined with exactitude and mental cruelty cannot be established by direct evidence\u2019 Divorce granted as husband\u2019s narration proved mental cruelty against him","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"September 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Uttaranchal High Court: A Division Bench of Alok Singh and Narayan Singh Dhanik, JJ. contemplated an appeal filed against the judgment passed by Additional Judge, Family Court, where the suit filed by the petitioner under Section 13 of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 was dismissed. 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The present appeal calls in questions the legality, validity and the propriety\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":270204,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/07\/15\/suspecting-the-character-of-spouse-and-making-false-allegations-of-extra-marital-affair-in-presence-of-colleagues-students-amount-to-mental-cruelty-madras-high-court-grants-divorce\/","url_meta":{"origin":349997,"position":3},"title":"Suspecting the character of spouse and making false allegations of extra marital affair in presence of colleagues\/ students amount to mental cruelty; Madras High Court grants divorce","author":"Editor","date":"July 15, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Madras High Court: A Division Bench of V. M. Velumani and S. Sounthar, JJ. granted divorce as sought by the appellant-husband on grounds of mental cruelty as the wife suspected the character of the appellant-husband and used filthy language in front of his colleagues and students and also alleged for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Madras High Court","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Madras-HC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Madras-HC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Madras-HC.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Madras-HC.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Madras-HC.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":299614,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2023\/08\/18\/attempt-commit-suicide-and-false-allegations-illicit-relationship-amount-mental-cruelty-delhi-hc\/","url_meta":{"origin":349997,"position":4},"title":"Attempt to commit suicide and false allegations of illicit relationship, amount to mental cruelty: Delhi High Court reiterates","author":"Simranjeet","date":"August 18, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cFalse allegations of illicit relationship are the ultimate kind of cruelty as it reflects a complete breakdown of trust and faith amongst the spouses without which no matrimonial relationship can survive.\u201d","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"delhi high court","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/delhi-high-court.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/delhi-high-court.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/delhi-high-court.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/delhi-high-court.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":253449,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2021\/08\/31\/wife-creates-matrimonial-profile-expressing-will-for-second-marriage\/","url_meta":{"origin":349997,"position":5},"title":"Bom HC | No decision on divorce petition, yet wife creates matrimonial profile expressing will for second marriage. Can this be a ground for divorce?","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"August 31, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Bombay High Court: The Division Bench of A.S. Chandurkar and G.A. Sanap, JJ. addressed whether prior to the decision on divorce petition, creating a matrimonial profile expressing the will and consent, would be a ground for divorce. Factual Background Respondent and appellant started developing discord in their relations. 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