'Minor differences no ground to leave spouse'

Minor differences cannot be a ground for a person to desert one's spouse, a Delhi court has said while ordering a woman to start living again with her husband.

Minor differences cannot be a ground for a person to desert one's spouse, a Delhi court has said while ordering a woman to start living again with her husband.

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Senior civil judge (SCJ) Anil Kumar Sisodia made the observation while allowing a man plea for restitution of his conjugal rights with his estranged wife, who had abandoned him for not staying away from his parents.

"These minor differences do not constitute sufficient cause for the wife to abandon her husband or to withdraw herself from company of her husband.

"In my considered opinion the plaintiff (husband) is entitled for the relief claimed by him. Accordingly, a decree of restitution of conjugal rights is passed in favour of the plaintiff and against the defendant (wife)," senior civil judge (SCJ) Anil Kumar Sisodia said.

Directing the woman to co-habit with her husband, the court said the wife's wish to live separately from her in­laws with the husband was not reason enough to abandon him.

The court also rejected her allegation that her husband and his family members were harassing her to meet dowry demands and that she was beaten mercilessly by them.

"Perusal of the testimonies of witnesses shows that the defendant has failed to make out a case that she was being harassed by her husband and his family members...," it said.

The woman's younger sister, also married in the family, denied that she was being harassed, it said.

The order was passed on the husband's plea that his wife has been living separately since August 31, 2009, three years after they had been married.