Long-term separation and irretrievable breakdown of marriage constitute mental cruelty justifying dissolution of marriage.

The appellant (husband) and respondent (wife) married on November 7, 2002, and have three children.

The respondent left the matrimonial home on July 24, 2010. Subsequently, the respondent filed several cases, including one under the Domestic Violence Act and a divorce petition, most of which were eventually dismissed for want of prosecution or set aside on appeal.

The appellant filed for divorce under Section 13(1)(ia) and (ib) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, on grounds of cruelty and desertion in 2019. The respondent did not appear despite being served, and the Family Court proceeded ex parte.

The Family Court, Jabalpur, dismissed the appellant's petition on December 12, 2023, questioning the proof of marriage and applying a "beyond reasonable doubt" standard of proof.

1. Whether the appellant was subjected to mental cruelty by the respondent within the meaning of Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act.

2. Whether the long-term separation of approximately 14 years by the respondent amounts to desertion and irretrievable breakdown of marriage.

The court applied Section 13(1)(ia) and (ib) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

The standard of proof in matrimonial disputes is "preponderance of probabilities," not "beyond reasonable doubt".

Precedents cited for "mental cruelty" include Samar Ghosh v. Jaya Ghosh (2007) and A. Jayachandra v. Aneel Kaur (2005), establishing that sustained neglect, long separation, and unworkable relationships constitute cruelty.

The court also relied on Naveen Kohli v. Neelu Kohli (2006) and Shri Rakesh Raman v. Smt. Kavita (2023), which hold that long separation and irretrievable breakdown of marriage, where the bond is beyond repair, should be recognized as a ground for divorce.

The High Court found that the Family Court committed a jurisdictional error by requiring proof "beyond reasonable doubt" rather than using the "preponderance of probabilities".

The Court noted that the parties had been living separately since July 2010—a period of 14 years—which constitutes a "complete cessation of matrimonial life".

Applying the Samar Ghosh criteria, the Court observed that when a marriage is "emotionally dead" and the respondent shows no interest in contesting or resuming the relationship (appearing ex parte throughout), the matrimonial bond is a mere legal fiction.

The Court held that forcing parties to remain legally tied in such circumstances enhances their pain and constitutes mental cruelty.

The respondent's persistent non-commitment and the failed attempts at reconciliation indicated that the relationship was beyond salvation.

The High Court allowed the appeal, set aside the Family Court's judgment dated December 12, 2023, and granted a decree of divorce dissolving the marriage under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.