Divorced, but husband can live in wife's flat

The flat is in the name of the wife who shifted to Delhi 11 years after her marriage due to differences with him.

Both Sharad and Meena (names changed) are in their sixties. They got married in April 1969, and have two grown up sons. However, problems arose in the later years, and Meena moved to Delhi in 1980.

The flat in which they lived in suburban Juhu had been purchased in Meena’s name. In 1981, Sharad filed a suit in a civil court, claiming ownership of the flat.
He contended that flat was entirely financed by him. However, following a settlement, Sharad accepted that she was the legal owner. This was noted in the civil court’s final ruling.

In turn, the wife agreed to share the flat with him. The flat was then partitioned into two units.

In 1997, Meena filed for divorce on the ground of cruelty. Her contention was that husband accused her of having an extramarital affair which amounted to mental cruelty.
The Family court granted her divorce while rejecting Sharad’s plea that Meena be restrained from throwing him out of the house. Sharad filed an appeal in the High Court. In its judgement, while upholding the divorce, HC ruled that Meena shall not throw her husband out of their matrimonial home.