Telangana HC grants divorce: Wife failed to prove claims; 42-year-old marriage ends
HYDERABAD : The Telangana high court has granted divorce to a 70-year-old retired govt teacher from his 62-year-old wife. The couple had married over 40 years ago, but had been living separately since 1991.
The woman also lodged a couple of criminal cases, including a dowry harassment case, against him. An attempt to murder case was lodged against him in 1996. However, the retired govt teacher was eventually acquitted by the trial courts.
He initially filed a divorce petition in the family court, but it was dismissed. Challenging the family court order, he approached the high court in 2015.
Considering his acquittals in criminal cases filed by the wife and other evidence, a bench of the high court, comprising Justices Moushumi Bhattacharya and BR Madhusudhan Rao, noted that false criminal allegations constituted mental cruelty and granted him divorce on June 23, 2025. Though they were married for 42 years, the couple stayed together for just eight years.
The couple was also involved in prolonged litigation that included property disputes initiated by their son. The 70-year-old, arguing his case in the family court, claimed that his wife had filed multiple dowry harassment cases against him and his family, forcing him to live apart and causing prolonged mental trauma.
However, the family court dismissed his petition, observing that he did not take adequate steps to reconcile with her or seek restitution of conjugal rights.
When it was challenged in the HC, the judges noted that his wife failed to provide convincing evidence of her willingness to reunite, and her claims were not supported beyond her testimony. The HC held that the husband’s acquittals in two separate dowry harassment cases — including one as recent as 2016 — weakened the credibility of her accusations and established a pattern of harassment by the wife.
Referring to the acquittals, the bench observed that acquittal assumes significance in light of the allegations made by her, and it casts a shadow on the truth of her allegations. His mother’s evidence was also sufficient to conclude they made efforts to bring her back.
The woman also lodged a couple of criminal cases, including a dowry harassment case, against him. An attempt to murder case was lodged against him in 1996. However, the retired govt teacher was eventually acquitted by the trial courts.
He initially filed a divorce petition in the family court, but it was dismissed. Challenging the family court order, he approached the high court in 2015.
Considering his acquittals in criminal cases filed by the wife and other evidence, a bench of the high court, comprising Justices Moushumi Bhattacharya and BR Madhusudhan Rao, noted that false criminal allegations constituted mental cruelty and granted him divorce on June 23, 2025. Though they were married for 42 years, the couple stayed together for just eight years.
The couple was also involved in prolonged litigation that included property disputes initiated by their son. The 70-year-old, arguing his case in the family court, claimed that his wife had filed multiple dowry harassment cases against him and his family, forcing him to live apart and causing prolonged mental trauma.
However, the family court dismissed his petition, observing that he did not take adequate steps to reconcile with her or seek restitution of conjugal rights.
When it was challenged in the HC, the judges noted that his wife failed to provide convincing evidence of her willingness to reunite, and her claims were not supported beyond her testimony. The HC held that the husband’s acquittals in two separate dowry harassment cases — including one as recent as 2016 — weakened the credibility of her accusations and established a pattern of harassment by the wife.
Referring to the acquittals, the bench observed that acquittal assumes significance in light of the allegations made by her, and it casts a shadow on the truth of her allegations. His mother’s evidence was also sufficient to conclude they made efforts to bring her back.
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