Septuagenarian couple in divorce battle

Septuagenarian couple in divorce battle

HYDERABAD: Marriages, it seems, are not made in heaven. Or so narrates the tale of 75-year old P Ramesh* who has filed for divorce from his wife of 52 years alleging mental agony and also for putting him behind bars on charges of dowry harassment more than three decades after they got married.

Surprisingly, Ramesh mustered enough courage to divorce his 70-year-old wife Sulekha* half a century later last year, saying his marital maladies began on November 11, 1961, the day his marriage was solemnized.

But the family court judge at Purani Haveli has been waiting for Sulekha to file a counter, which has not come so far, court officials said, and Ramesh's long wait for freedom has been delayed by more than a year now.

Sulekha lives alone in the city after she got separated from her husband 14 years ago, but court officials could not say why she has not yet filed a counter, although she was seen at court a few times. The divorce petition says both are 'incompatible'.

The septuagenarians worked in government departments and are both drawing pension and have three sons, who are all employed. Ramesh, in his original petition (OP) said that he could no longer live with Sulekha as she had caused him mental agony by accusing him of having an amorous disposition and had 'banished' him from his house on account of this, a charge he denies.

The allegedly henpecked septuagenarian's pleas for respite from the 'ill-treatment and harassment' at the hands of his wife will be heard on June 21 as the court has called for Sulekha's counsel to file a counter as the court's last attempt to try and save the marriage.

If the respondent still doesn't respond with a counter, the case is likely to be posted directly for evidence in the petition, lawyers said.

In 1999, 38-long years after their marriage, Sulekha had slapped various cases against Ramesh, including dowry harassment under section 498-A, 393 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC for which the XIII metropolitan magistrate had convicted him for six months.

Ramesh still decided not to take the extreme step, but the situation he says has come to such a pass that he has prayed that the marriage be dissolved as soon as possible, and he be awarded costs as the court deems fit.

Ramesh alleges in his petition that Sulekha had an 'ulterior motive' for marrying him in addition to claiming that he had invested in immovable properties, which were purchased in his wife's name. She was not a 'dutiful' wife, he adds in the petition.   http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Septuagenarian-couple-in-divorce-battle/articleshow/20302958.cms