JOIN USA vacation bench of justices Markandeya Katju and Deepak Verma observed: “Bibi joh boltee hai woh sunno (listen to whatever your wife says), otherwise it could land you in trouble. Because if you do not listen to her, you will suffer the consequences. “Hum sab bhogi hai (we are all sufferers),” the bench said in a lighter vein. The bench further said a husband has to accept the suggestion of a wife irrespective of the fact whether it is sensible or not.
This interesting suggestion from the Apex Court evolved on Tuesday during a matrimonial case involving an Air Force official Deepak Kumar who complained that his estranged wife Manisha had ruined him and his family by implicating them in false criminal cases, including sodomy. The couple got married 17 years ago but matrimonial disputes surfaced between the two soon after the marriage. A district court in Chandigarh dismissed Deepak’s plea for divorce as Manisha opposed it, but a single judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted decree of judicial separation.
On an appeal from Manisha, a division bench granted the decree of divorce as the marriage “had irretrievably broken down” besides directing Rs 10 lakh maintenance amount from Deepak to her.
Aggrieved by the High Court’s order Manisha filed an appeal in the Apex Court challenging the decree of divorce. Deepak’s counsel argued that Manisha even though had implicated her husband and his family in a host of criminal cases was yet opposing the divorce despite the marriage breaking down irretrievably.
The vacation bench, however, posted the matter for further hearing to July last week as there was no urgency in dealing with the matter.
PTI