ROHTASH SINGH vs SMT. RAMENDRI AND ORS.

The Supreme Court upheld the Family Court's decree of divorce under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act on the grounds of desertion, affirming that the respondent's refusal to return to the petitioner's home constituted desertion. The Court ruled that the respondent was not entitled to maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, as the marriage had effectively ended, and the conditions of Section 125(4) were applicable. The petitioner's challenge against the maintenance order was thus dismissed, reinforcing the principle that maintenance cannot be claimed post-divorce.