Sagar
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Feb 19: Devi Prasad (46) who stood apologetic in the family court podium recently did not contest the charges made by his wife and nodded to everything the judge said.
Prasad’s wife Rajashree Dash (45), a teacher who resides in Laxmisagar, has sought divorce on grounds of incompatibility and cruelty by her husband 19 years after marriage. The petitioner did not either seek maintenance or financial help.
Senior judge Prabhakar Mishra said “Since the respondent has not filed an appeal, this court feels lawful to pronounce that the marriage between the petitioner and respondent stands dissolved.’’
Dash, in her petition, alleged Prasad used to beat her up under the influence of alcohol and filed divorce petition under section 13(1) (i-a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
The couple has an 18-year-old daughter who chose to stay with her father. The couple has been staying separately for two years.
Dash had filed a case with Jatni police station in June stating that Prasad had kidnapped her daughter and put her in confinement. Later, she filed an application before the High Court under article 226 and 227 for issuance of habeas corpus alleging Khurda superintendent of police and Jatni IIC were not doing anything to free her daughter from her husband.
The High Court disposed of the case and directed Dash to approach Khurda SP for her grievance. Subsequently, the girl was produced before the district court where she stated that she was not abducted and was residing with her father peacefully. She also declined to live with her mother.
Explaining the reasons for seeking divorce, Dash told Orissa Post, “My husband has been threatening to kill me for a long time.” Prasad’s lawyer Dataram Ashok Kumar Mangaraj says she had never filed a case against her husband for the threats. ‘‘Instead, she filed a case for kidnapping that too was proved false.”
When ‘Orissa Post’ asked Prasad if he ever threatened her wife, he said, “Yes, once in front of Khurda SP during counseling I threatened to kill her.”
Prasad, a yoga instructor, claimed he had never touched alcohol. He was opposed to the divorce initially but as it dragged on, he gave in. “At this point, I don’t really care on what grounds our marriage is dissolved. All I’m worried about is my daughter’s marriage,” Prasad said.
Prasad and Dash had a love marriage in 1995.
