A single judge of Telangana High Court held that a deserter wife is not eligible for maintenance.
From Para 5-7,
Ekula Sujatha Vs Ekula Rajender and Anr on 1 Jul 20245. Learned counsel for respondent No.1 submitted that the petitioner voluntarily left the society of her husband and the trial Court after appreciating the evidence available on record in proper perspective rightly passed the impugned order. Hence, the interference of this Court is unwarranted and he seeks to dismiss the Revision.
6. On behalf of the petitioner, the trial Court examined PWs.1 to 3 and marked Exs.P1 and P2. On behalf of respondent No.1, RWs.1 and 2 were examined and Exs.R1 and R2 were marked. Upon careful scrutiny of the oral and documentary evidence, the trial Court observed that the petitioner voluntarily left the society of her husband and respondent No.1, never neglected or refused to maintain her. Except making averments in the petition, there is no proof filed by the petitioner, to show that her parents gave cash and other articles as dowry to respondent No.1. The evidence of PWs.1 and 2 discloses that the petitioner put conditions on respondent No.1 stating that she would join his society only if he would put up a basket shop by investing an amount of Rs.2,00,000/-, to give her seven (7) tulas of gold articles and to put up a separate family with her abandoning his parents. The trial Court further observed that respondent No.1 filed an application seeking restitution of conjugal rights against the petitioner and his consistent efforts to cohabit with her have gone in vain. Therefore, the learned Judge of the trial Court opined that the petitioner failed to aver and prove that respondent No.1 neglected or refused to maintain her and that she is unable to maintain herself and thus, rendered the impugned judgment.
7. This Court vide order dated 02.07.2019, stated that no order directing respondent No.1, to pay interim maintenance can be granted, as the trial Court found that the petitioner herself left the company of her husband. Later, the matter underwent several adjournments.
Index is here.