Prove Cruelty: HC in Divorce Petition
Hyderabad: A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court comprising Justice K. Lakshman and Justice V. Ramakrishna Reddy dismissed the appeal of the Family Court, observing that allegations of cruelty must be proven by relevant and independent evidence. The bench upheld the rejection of the divorce petition by the Secunderabad Family Court and the restoration of conjugal rights. It was the case that the husband was subjected to cruelty and abandonment due to allegations of abusive behaviour, frequent fights, interference from the mother-in-law and suspicion due to his alleged use of the phone late at night. It was argued that such behavior made the continuation of married life impossible and justified the dissolution of the marriage.
Opposing the appeal, the defendant-wife’s counsel argued that the allegations were vague, unsubstantiated and not supported by any independent witness or material. The documentary hearings of the Gangaputra Sangham allegedly revealed that the appellant insisted that she was taking medication to prevent pregnancy, subjected her to suspicion and ill-treatment, and constantly expressed her desire to continue living together. The Board observed that despite serious allegations, the appellant did not examine his parents or provide any medical or corroborative evidence. During cross-examination, the committee noted that he beat his wife more than once, did not pay alimony for several years, and did not object to the decree on the restoration of conjugal rights. Arguing that cruelty must be proven with convincing and reliable evidence and that mere allegations cannot constitute the basis for the termination of the marriage, the committee did not find any impropriety in the findings of the Family Court. Accordingly, the board rejected the objection.
2nd HC Hears Death Penalty Case
A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court comprising Justice K. Lakshman and Justice V. Ramakrishna Reddy will continue hearing the relevant hearing to confirm the death sentence awarded to the accused Guru Praveen Kumar in the sensational Vikarabad triple murder case. The case relates to the gruesome murders that took place between August 4-5, 2019, at the penthouse rented by the family in Vikarabad, in which the accused allegedly killed his wife Chandini, his nine-year-old stepson and his five-year-old daughter.
According to the indictment and witness statements, the cause of the case was due to domestic discord; It was alleged that the defendant had doubts about his wife’s fidelity after accessing her phone conversations. The recorded material reflects a history of strained relations and repeated quarrels. On the night of the incident, after her mother and brother separated following an alcohol-induced argument, the accused allegedly attacked Chandini with an iron bar, causing fatal cranio-cerebral injuries and then strangled her. He allegedly killed the children, resulting in a triple murder. It is said that in the early hours of August 5, 2019, the accused appeared before the Vikarabad police and made a voluntary confession. After the trial, the District Court and Sessions Judge, Vikarabad, found him guilty of all the charges and sentenced him to death by hanging in addition to the fine. As per the provisions of CrPC, the sentence was sent to the Supreme Court for confirmation. The panel heard detailed submissions and decided to adjourn the matter and continue arguments at the next hearing date.
