M. M. Punchhi, J. - (1.)This is a matrimonial appeal by the wife. A decree of divorce was passed against her on the ground of cruelty.
(2.)Broad facts as alleged by the petitioning husband-respondent was that the marriage between the parties took place on 15-6-1975 and they have a female child born out of the wedlock. The husband stated that the wife was a lady of haughtly temperament, was indifferent towards him, was in the habit of abusing and Insulting him, was scanting to live away from his parents and was keen in rendering financial help to her parents. With these cross-events the parties lived together till on 31-5-1978 the wife left the house of the husband taking away all her ornaments and valuables. A petition for restitution of conjugal rights was filed by him on 28-10-1978, but was later withdrawn on 18-9-1979 because the parties patched up their differences and started living together. Allegedly the habits of the wife continued just as before. On 23-3-1980 she picked up a quarrel with her husband, abused him and even threw shoes at his face. On that day their little child was ailing. There were two witnesses to this occurrence, namely, Sham Lal P. W. 10 and Satpal Singh P. W. 11, who were neighbours and had been attracted to the scene on hearing the quarrel going on. Besides that, the wife is said to have abused the husband in his office, on which the husband made a complaint against her to the Gurunanak Dev University Authorities, where she as also the husband are stated to be employees. The wife was administered a warning by the concerned authorities. On these allegations, the husband sought divorce or in the alternative for judicial separation from his wife.
(3.)The wife in her written statement had her own version to the turn of events. She asserted that she had never deserted the petitioner and was always ready and willing to live with him. With regard to the incident of 23-3-1980 she said that she was administered a beating by the husband and had to leave the house of the husband. But as claimed by her thereafter the parents and the other respectables of the locality had intervened and in May 1980 the parties had started living together till Aug. 1, 1980, when she was again turned out of the house.