2003 PLRonline 0009
MADRAS HIGH COURT
P. SATHASIVAM AND A.K. RAJAN, JJ.
S. Indrakumari v. S. Subbaiah
V.C.M.P. No.17356 of 2002
10th January, 2003
Hindu marriage Act, 1955, S.13(1)(ia) – Cruelty – Denial of sexual relationship – Wilful denial of sexual relationship by one spouse, when the other spouse is anxious, amounts to cruelty – Decree of divorce confirmed. Held, refusal to have sexual intercourse amounts to cruelty on the other party. A normal and healthy sexual relationship is one of the basic ingredients of a happy and harmonious marriage. No doubt, if this is not possible due to ill-health on the part of one of the spouses, it may not amount to cruelty, depending on the circumstances of the case. But wilful denial of sexual relationship by a spouse, when the other spouse is anxious for it, would amount to mental cruelty, especially when the parties are young and newly married [Para 27]
Cases Cited:
- R. Balasubramanian V. Vijayalakshmi Balasubramanian, II (1999) DMC 396 (SC) : VII (1999) SLT 19 : AIR 1999 SC 3070 [Para 20]
- Vira Reddi V. Kistamma, AIR 1969 Mad. 235. [Para 20]
- K. Narayanan V. Sreedevi, I (1989), AIR 1990 Ker. 151 [Para 20]
- V. Bhagat V. Mrs. D. Bhagat, AIR 1994 SC 710 [Para 20]
- Tamizh Selvi V. Arumugam, 1990 TLNJ 237 [Para 20]
- Parveen Mehta V. Inderjit Mehta, IV (2002) SLT 381 : 2002(5) SCC 706 [Para 22]
- Srikant V. Anuradha, AIR 1980 Kar. 8 [Para 24]
- Anil Bhardwaj V. Smt. Nirmlesh Bhardwaj, AIR 1987 Del. 111 [Para 25]
- Radheshyam Sharma V. Kusum Sharma, I (1990) DMC 290 [Para 26]
Petitioner Counsel: Mr. K. DORAISAMI, Sr. Adv. for Mr. K. N. NATARAJ
Respondent Counsel: Mr. T. R. RAJAGOPALAN, Sr. Adv, for Mr. N. DAMODARAN
