Woman told to return to husband without delay

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 17

A local court has directed a woman to join the company of her husband at her matrimonial house without further delay.

The man, a resident of Maloya Colony, Chandigarh, approached the court through counsel Arun Vohra after his repeated requests were turned down by his wife to live with him.

Vohra argued before the court that his client’s marriage with the respondent was solemnised as per the Hindu rites and ceremonies at Bhramari Devi Jan Kalyan Sanstha, Mansa Devi market, Panchkula, in 2016. It was a love marriage and no dowry articles were exchanged. There was imminent threat from the side of respondent’s parents and as such a protection petition was filed before the District Judge, Chandigarh, and it was allowed on November 26, 2016.

Initially, family members of the respondent did not accept the marriage. However, with the passage of time, they accepted the marriage and started visiting each other. The respondent became pregnant and she was provided medical support by the petitioner.

Vohra argued that the woman went to the residence of her sister in Mohali without the consent of the petitioner and he was told that she had gone to her parental home at Himachal Pradesh.

The petitioner asked her wife to join the matrimonial home. However, the woman said she would join after some time, but she did not return despite repeated calls. He apprehended that the respondent had aborted three months’ pregnancy under the influence of her family members. He said the respondent had withdrawn from the company of the petitioner since May 7, 2017, without any reasonable cause and flatly refused to join his company.

The petitioner is ready and willing to stay with the respondent. He made a prayer to the court to pass a decree of restitution of conjugal rights in favour of the petitioner and against the respondent. The court issued notices to the respondent, but none appeared on her behalf. Consequently, the respondent has proceeded against ex-parte vide order dated October 12, 2017.

After hearing the arguments and examination of the witnesses, Dr Aman Inder Singh, Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division), said it was clearly established that the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent was solemnized on November 23, 2016 as per the Hindu rites. However, the respondent had withdrawn from the society of the petitioner without any reasonable cause since May 7, 2017. In view of this, the respondent is directed to join the petitioner at the matrimonial house forthwith.