How Can We Prove Desertion In Divorce In India?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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On the question of desertion, the High Court held that in order to prove a case of desertion, the party

alleging desertion must not only prove that the other spouse was living separately but also must prove that there is an animus deserendi on the part of the wife and the husband must prove that he has not conducted

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What is desertion in divorce in India?

Hindus, Christians, and Muslims are governed under separate marriage acts and grounds for divorce in India. … Desertion –

If one of the spouses voluntarily abandons his/her partner for at least a period of two years

, the abandoned spouse can file a divorce case on the ground of desertion.

What is the desertion period for divorce?

The decree granted under the Hindu Marriage Act, allows for divorce on the ground of one of the spouse having deserted the other for a continuous period of

two years

before filing of the petition.

What are grounds for desertion?

Criminal desertion is a

husband’s or wife’s abandonment or willful failure without

JUST CAUSE to provide for the care, protection, or support of a spouse who is in ill health or necessitous circumstances. Desertion, which is called abandonment in some statutes, is a DIVORCE ground in a majority of states.

How do you prove marriage abandonment?

In order to prove abandonment, the abandoned spouse

must use direct or constructive evidence to demonstrate their claim

. The spouse claiming abandonment must prove that the couple kept separate residences and didn’t engage in marital relations for a required period, usually a year.

What is desertion in a divorce case?

Desertion is

willful abandonment of a person’s duties or obligations

, especially to a spouse or child. … Desertion is a ground for divorce in states with fault divorce.

Is desertion of wife a crime in India?

Halsbury’s Laws of India defines desertion as

a ‘total repudiation of the obligation of marriage’

. … [3]In a marriage, if one spouse leaves the matrimonial alliance without any sufficient cause he is said to be at ‘fault’. Marriage is considered a sacrament and preserved as a social institution.

How do you prove constructive desertion?

Constructive desertion is

when one spouse makes the household unlivable for the other spouse

. Misconduct that qualifies constructive desertion can include domestic violence and excessive emotional harassment. Willful and continual refusal of sexual relations for 12 months can also contribute to constructive desertion.

Can I get a divorce on the grounds of desertion?

One of the ways is known as desertion, which essentially means you have been abandoned. You will need to be able to show that your spouse has, without your consent or without good reason,

abandoned you for at least two years

before you can start a petition for divorce.

What is considered desertion in a marriage?

Spousal abandonment, also known as desertion, refers to

the deliberate abandonment of a spouse with the intention of ending the marriage and without justification

. … The spouse that left did so without justification. The spouse that remains in the marital home did not consent to the separation.

What is willful desertion?

Willful desertion is

the voluntary separation of one of the married parties from the other with intent to desert

.

Can I leave my wife without divorce?

An agreement to separate may be a preliminary for a no-fault divorce, but

just leaving is not

. … Some states have laws saying that if one spouse has moved out, it demonstrates an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, sufficient for a divorce.

What is the penalty for desertion?

Desertion carries a maximum punishment of

dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay, and confinement of five years

. For desertion during a time of war, however, the death penalty may be applied (at the discretion of the court-martial).

Can my wife force me to leave the house?

Both parties have a right to stay in the home.

No one can force you to leave your residence without a court order unless there is domestic violence

. In order to get such a court order in a divorce, a temporary orders hearing must be held.

What happens if your spouse abandons you?

The one who abandons the

marriage will not be forced to return

, but they will be held financially responsible for things such as child support, spousal support, and property division via a divorce court order.

What is the abandoned spouse rule?

Abandoned spouse rules

allow a taxpayer who was abandoned by her spouse to file as head of household

. Congress enacted these rules because otherwise the separated parent may be forced to use unfavorable tax rates if she must file married filing separately.

What is legal desertion?

A fact that may be used to prove the irretrievable breakdown of a marriage or civil partnership and therefore secure a decree of divorce or a dissolution order. To establish desertion, the petitioner must show: A separation.

An intention to desert by the respondent

.

Is desertion a criminal Offence?


No it is not a crime under

the indian penal code but it can be a ground to get a decree for restitution of conjugal rights from the court. It can also be a ground for judicial seperation and divorce if they don’t want to cohabit together.

What should you not do during separation?

  • Do not get into a relationship immediately. …
  • Never seek a separation without the consent of your partner. …
  • Don’t rush to sign divorce papers. …
  • Don’t bad mouth your partner in front of the kids. …
  • Never deny your partner the right to co-parenting.

What happens if my spouse refuses to divorce me?

If you fail to respond,

the family court judge can issue default judgment

, which means the terms proposed by your spouse will be granted. It also means you will lose the opportunity to contest the terms and your divorce will be finalized in spite of your efforts to make it stop.

What is constructive desertion under Hindu Marriage?

2 Aug 2021 9:58 PM. The Kerala High Court has held that when the appellant-husband

makes an offer to resume the marital relationship

, and the respondent-wife resists without any reasonable cause, failing to resume cohabitation, it would amount to “constructive desertion”.

Can I sue my spouse for abandonment?

In most abandonment and desertion cases, you will need to prove that your spouse abandoned you for a specific period of time. … You must prove that your spouse

left at least 12 months before filing

and, when doing so, did it willfully with intent to desert you.

What is the difference between actual and constructive desertion?

The only point of difference would be that in actual desertion there is actual abandonment or actual running away from the marital obligations whereas in constructive desertion it would be

the expulsive conduct of one spouse

.

What are the 5 grounds for divorce?

  • Fault Theory. Under this theory, marriage can be ended when one party to the marriage is responsible or liable for the offence under matrimonial offences done against another spouse. …
  • Mutual Consent. …
  • Irretrievable Breakdown. …
  • Adultery. …
  • Cruelty. …
  • Desertion. …
  • Conversion. …
  • Insanity.

What grounds can I divorce my husband on?

Currently, the five possible grounds for divorce are:

adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion, living apart for more than two years

(with agreement) and living apart for more than five years (without agreement).

Can you get a divorce if your spouse doesn’t want one?


You can still get a divorce even if your spouse does not want one

. States do not force a couple to stay together if one person no longer wants to be married. However, it can definitely complicate the process if the other party does not want to go through with it.

Is desertion a treason?

Those who are away for fewer than thirty days but can credibly be shown to have no intent to return (for example, by joining the armed forces of another country) may nevertheless be tried for desertion. On rare occasions, they may

be tried for treason if enough evidence is found

.

Is desertion punishable by death?

Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 15 offenses can be punishable by death, though many of these crimes — such as desertion or disobeying a superior commissioned officer’s orders —

carry the death penalty only in time of war

.

Can you still be shot for desertion?

A charge of desertion can actually result in the death penalty, which is the maximum punishment during “time of war.” However, since the Civil War, only one American servicemember has ever been executed for desertion:

Private Eddie Slovik in 1945

.

Can a spouse remove items from the home?


You can remove furniture

, if there is no order against it. However, you might want to talk to your spouse or your attorney about it, first. If your spouse shows up and everything is missing from the house, you will look bad to the court.

What is constructive desertion?

If one spouse is forced by the conduct of other to leave home,

it may be that the spouse responsible for the driving out is guilty of

desertion which means constructive desertion. W…the wife is forcibly turned out of her marital home by the husband, the husband is guilty of constructive desertion.

How do you separate assets when separating?

  1. You can have an informal agreement. …
  2. You can ask the Court to turn your agreement into consent orders by completing an Application for Consent Orders and filing it with the Court. …
  3. You can turn your agreement into a binding financial agreement.

Who has to leave the house in a separation?

Separation usually occurs when one party moves out of

the marital

home with no intent to return to the marriage. When that occurs, the spouse remaining has certain rights and protections, as does the spouse moving out.

What happens if I leave my house in a separation?

In the standard case, the leaving of

the house will not affect the rights and interest in the marital home

. The one aspect that the person will lose is the right to what happens inside the house or on the land. This includes the upkeep, changes and loss or acquiring of additional furnishing.

Can I legally ask my husband to leave?

The short answer is yes,

you can force a Spouse to leave the marital residence

. … An agreement between spouses on who is to move out and situations of domestic violence are examples meeting the requirements.

Can I ask my wife to leave the house in India?


your husband can not force you to leave the house

. He can not even get divorce easily. Since you have property in joint names therefore he can not evict you or take your share out of it. … You can also claim maintenance from your husband as ur right enshrined in Section 125 of Criminal Procedure Code.

How do you play dirty in a divorce?

  1. Serving Papers with the Intent to Embarrass. You’re angry with your spouse, and you want to humiliate him or her. …
  2. Taking Everything. …
  3. Canceling Credit Cards. …
  4. Clearing Our Your Bank Accounts. …
  5. Starving Out the Other Spouse. …
  6. Refusing to Cooperate. …
  7. Jeopardizing Employment. …
  8. Meddling in an Affair.

Can husband and wife live separately without divorce in India?

Indian law has made separate conventions where if one couple wants to live separately without filing for divorce, they can do so. This is called

judicial separation

in the legal terms. It has been mentioned under section 10 of the Hindu Marriage Law. … And this is backed by the legal order for that matter.

Leah Jackson
Author
Leah Jackson
Leah is a relationship coach with over 10 years of experience working with couples and individuals to improve their relationships. She holds a degree in psychology and has trained with leading relationship experts such as John Gottman and Esther Perel. Leah is passionate about helping people build strong, healthy relationships and providing practical advice to overcome common relationship challenges.